Any parent who has a child with special needs will become all too familiar with insurance, and the many issues related to it. While it’s natural in the early days following an injury or diagnosis to focus on nothing but your child’s medical care, health, and overall well being, the fact is that how you navigate your insurance will determine whether your child gets the therapies and benefits that he needs. In fact, it’s fair to say that insurance and your child’s wellness go hand in hand.

Once your child is stabilized, the first thing you should do is locate the master copies of all insurance policies that you hold, and read them carefully. If you don’t have a copy of these easily at hand, you can request them from your insurance company or your employer.

Insurance-related areas that all parents of special needs children should familiarize themselves with include the following:

• Types of insurance
• Determining cost of care
• How to determine available benefits
• Potential roadblocks
• Appeals

It’s also important to understand that navigating insurance can be a battle, especially when catastrophic injury or chronic conditions are concerned. Insurance companies hire teams of lawyers whose sole job it is to find ways to deny your child’s benefits. It’s up to you to learn how to successfully advocate for your child, so you can fight back and ensure that your child gets the therapies and benefits that she needs to live the healthiest, happiest, and most productive life possible.

Of course, parents with special needs children need to focus their strength on helping their children be well, and becoming embroiled in insurance issues can deplete valuable resources such as time and energy.

If insurance issues are becoming complicated and confusing, and your child is being denied benefits and therapies that both you and your child’s doctor believe she would benefit from, please contact us to find out how we can help. With the right advocacy, you can ensure your child gets the treatment she needs.