Life with Lowe: When Insurance Won’t Cover Behavioral Therapy

Every three months, I take Noah, who is four, to his eye doctor for a check-up. He was born with cataracts in both eyes and then developed Glaucoma. I choose this doctor for two reasons. She’s patient with Noah and she has a special tool called the Icare Tonometer that she can check his eye pressures due to the Glaucoma and we don’t have to go to the hospital and put him under anesthesia to do this quick test. As much as these two reasons keep me coming back to this office, I always dread this visit.

Why? Because this office isn’t exactly kid friendly and with a child who NEVER wants to sit still and go every single place he shouldn’t, it makes for some pretty embarrassing situations with the high-pitched screaming every time I have to tell him, “No.” Being strapped into a stroller doesn’t work either because unless it’s constantly moving (and lobby is too small to move a stroller around), he’ll scream to want out. The last visit in January, we were in the waiting room approximately 30 minutes. Imagine how fun (and LONG) that is before I can get into a room to see his doctor!

I would love to go out in public with Noah and not have to worry if he’ll have a tantrum because I won’t let him do something he clearly feels he must do. I mentioned this to Noah’s speech therapist and she suggested looking into behavioral therapy. She also told me that even though it might benefit Noah, most insurance does not cover it and it’s expensive. I did my own research and she’s right. A few places in my area that offer this type of therapy range between $125-$150 per session and most insurance doesn’t cover it. To know there is something out there that could be a huge benefit to my son, yet expensive, is really frustrating.

Here are some of the potential benefits that could help Noah:

• Reversing negative patterns of thinking, addressing bad habits
• Appropriately dealing with stress and frustration
• Participating positively in a variety of activities
• Setting goals to replace negative patterns of behavior with positive ones
• New ways of learning and self-help techniques are reinforced
• Increase in self-esteem
• Improved performance at school, at home, and in social situations

Seeing some of these potential benefits, of course I’d want to see what this could do for Noah and his ability to handle situations in public, in the future. Fortunately, in Texas, there is a way to get some financial help through an organization called, Susie Bean Gives (www.susiebean.org) where parents can apply for aid to help cover the cost of services that insurance won’t cover.

Although, Susie Bean Gives only covers Texas, I found another webpage extremely helpful that lists organizations that offer financial assistance across the country, http://www.thrivebehavioralservices.com/grants.html.

I am looking into a few places for behavioral therapy for Noah, even if it’s once a month until I can afford more or get some financial aid. I don’t want to deny Noah this opportunity if it could help him presently and in the future. One of the places I’ve requested more information offers behavioral therapy through music. He is obsessed with music so I’m really excited to hear more about that place and see if it would be a good fit for Noah.

I hope to do a follow-up post in a few months after finding a good place and let you know how Noah is doing with it and if it’s helping him and my sanity.

With hope (in my genes),

Jenna

Learn more about Jenna here.