The things to consider can feel overwhelming: there is, of course, health care, possible surgeries, medicine, tools and equipment, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and educational concerns.
What Kind of Insurance Do I Need?
Of course, a strong health insurance is the best first line of defense to these medical concerns. If you have employer-provided health insurance, schedule a meeting with your Human Resources office to discuss the options for you. During open enrollment, you may be able to bolster your plan to get stronger coverage for your child. You may also already be eligible for insurance and health care coverage that you were not aware of, such as doctor networks or health savings plans.
The human resources office at your workplace is your best first resource for learning about what coverage you have, the limits of the coverage, and possibilities for your future coverage with your health insurance provider.
Are There Government Assistance Programs?
A child with a brain injury can be a particularly troublesome financial issue for those families who have inadequate access to insurance coverage. The government does provide options for assistance and support, that can help your child lead a healthier life and help with your financial issues related to medical expenses. Government programs include:
- Supplemental Security Income. SSI is a form of financial help for certain people with disabilities, such as cerebral palsy. SSI is provided by the government, but it’s not the same as other types of governmental financial assistance because it’s actually provided and funded by the United States Treasury Office. This means that recipients of SSI funding do not have to fulfill work credit conditions before receiving the financial support. Applicants for SSI must be able to show that they are a resident of the United States, as well as a demonstrated disability (mental, physical or both). The family must also provide medical documentation showing that your child suffers from the disability and has been treated for it, as well as financial documentation of your lack of adequate funds to cover the medical requirements.
- Medicaid. Medicaid is not available to everyone, but if you can demonstrate the need for your family and your income level, this could be a good option to help cover the costs of medical care for your disabled child.
- Social Security Disability Insurance. Social Security Disability Insurance is a type of disability funding for people who are not able to find a job because of their mental or physical limitations or disability. As your child grows older, this is something to consider for his or her lifelong financial support.
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. This program, or TANF for short, helps provide temporary financial assistance to needy families who are facing unemployment issues. This is not a program aimed at assisting disabled children specifically, but rather families who are not able to find work but who are seeking work. The specific requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families can vary by state, so be sure to contact your state’s unemployment office to receive information about the requirements, guidelines and how to apply.
Should I File a Lawsuit to Help with My Financial Issues?
If you think your child’s brain injury was caused by the negligence of a medical professional, you should consider that you have the legal right to sue for “damages”—or compensation—against the responsible person or parties.
The first step is to seek legal counsel regarding the facts of your case and the merit of a potential lawsuit. This could include negligent or potentially negligent action by any of the medical caregivers, including the pediatrician, the delivering physician, midwives or nurses.
If you are able to prove that negligence was a factor in your child’s injury or disability, you could be able to receive a settlement of financial compensation that can help care for your child’s medical and health needs. Sometimes this settlement can even cover past expenses, as well as future expenses for health care, physical therapy, and educational costs.
Although not every child’s birth injury or disability is caused by negligence that would give rise to a medical malpractice lawsuit, you should contact a lawyer for advice if you believe that negligence was a factor in your baby’s injury.
