Managed Care Plans for Children With Special Needs:

If your child has special health care needs, it is important to select a managed health care insurance provider that will be able to provide your child with the best possible health insurance. There are specific areas of focus that you, as a parent, will need to be aware of before purchasing a managed care plan.

1. Are the premiums and deductibles reasonable? Insurance for special needs can be very expensive. It is important to make sure that you will be able to meet your monthly premiums and that your deductibles are not too high. Try to comparison shop for the best deal among several different insurance companies. You will also need to keep in mind whether you could still afford this coverage should your circumstances change.

2. Will the plan provide continuity of care? If your child has special needs, they need to receive continuity of care to ensure that they are having all of their needs met. This may means visits to a specialty clinic, or specific specialists that your child will need to see. Will your plan provide coverage in these areas?

3. Are regular services provided as well? In addition to your child's special needs, are regular check-ups, immunization and preventative care covered in your current plan? This is very important to maintaining your child's overall health. In addition, many states now require healthy child check-ups several times a year, making it important to have these visits covered to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

4. Will the plan cover prescription medication? The treatment for special needs often involves medication. This medication can be very costly and may be a regular requirement. If you cannot afford to continually purchase this medication without coverage, you will need to make sure that your child's health insurance plan covers prescription medication. In the event that it does not, you may be able to obtain a drug discount card that can assist you in managing these costs.

5. Are lab and x-rays covered by the plan? Managed health care can fall down when it comes to providing complete coverage for specialized services. In addition, there may be limits as to how many times a year your child can receive this type of care. If your child currently needs several lab tests or x-rays performed each year, it is important to select a health insurance plan that will keep up with these needs.

6. Is mental health care provided? Insurance policies typically do not cover mental health care needs. If your child requires this type of care, you will need to try to find an insurance plan that will offer this option.

7. Are physical therapy and/or rehabilitation coverage provided? Many conditions require continuing physical therapy or rehabilitation therapy. These services can greatly reduce recovery time and get your child back on their feet. However, your managed care provider may not cover these additional services. If your child may need this type of care, try to find a plan that will provide coverage.

By taking the time to inform yourself and comparison shop, you can save much more than money. You may be able to save your child's life by getting them the health insurance policy that will meet their needs.

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