How to Pay for Child Medical Expenses

When your little one is sick, figuring out how to pay for child medical expenses is the last thing you want to think about. Unfortunately, it may have to be one of your top concerns. If you don't have insurance or your child needs treatment your health insurance won't cover, finding the resources to pay for medical bills may be essential to his or her recovery.

Fortunately, there are options for parents with children who need treatments health insurance won't cover. These instructions will help you find the resources you desperately need to get your child back on the road to wellness.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Determination
• Child medical expenses

1. ESTIMATE WHAT YOU NEED TO START
   
   There is usually no way of knowing how much treatment will cost or how much you will need to pay your child medical expenses until your child's treatment is complete. That's okay. The hardest step in finding resources is the first step.
   
   If you know of a doctor or treatment center your child should attend, contact them for information about pricing. If your child is in need of outpatient treatment that is not covered by medical insurance, how much is the first visit? Subsequent visits? Related medication costs? Get as much information as you can about the price of services your child will need.
   
   For hospitalizations it is best to speak to the billing office at the hospital in question. Before you start your own search for money, they may be able to direct you to existing assistance programs, or help you access alternative health insurance.

2. CONTACT CHILDREN'S SERVICES
   
   Depending on the state you live in, this agency may be called the Department of Human Services, Department of Child Services, or another name. You can find the agency by searching for 'child services' along with the name of your state in a Google query.
   
   Explain your situation to the receptionist and ask her to connect you with the agency that is best suited to help you access charitable resources and state funding. You may have to explain your situation several times, so be prepared.

3. ASK YOUR CHILD'S CASE WORKER
   
   If your child has an ongoing medical condition and has been connected to other, non-medical services (such as special education services), first contact your child's case worker. The case worker is your child's advocate. They are experienced in finding financial resources for children in need. It is their job to work on your child's behalf. They are particularly adept at accessing donations for medical expenses.

4. CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL
   
   You child's school may be aware of charitable organizations that help children in need, including those with medical needs. The school may even be able to help with fund-raising to cover the medical costs insurance won't pay for. Ask to speak to a social worker or guidance counselor.

5. CHURCH
   
   Churches can be a great source of support, both spiritual and financial. Even when an individual is not a member of their congregation, church communities have been known to collect donations, hold fund-raisers, and donate needed medical supplies. A church may not be able to pay for child medical expenses in full, but when the community is mobilized it is amazing what resources they can generate.

6. DONATIONS WEBSITE
   
   If you are still in need of financial resources to pay child medical expenses, consider creating a website to accept donations for your child. You don't have to know much about building websites, and you can likely create one for free. You will need a means of accepting donations online. A free Paypal account can handle these transactions. Provide some information about your child's condition, the expenses involved, and the progress your child is making (if any). Promote your site through friends and family members. Include a link to your donation site in the signature section of any relevant forum you visit.

Tips & Warnings

• Never give up
• Don't let the magnitude of the expense overwhelm you. Once you get treatment up and going, once the resources are flowing, it is easier to find additional resources.

[cajunc]

on 8/2/2009 Good advice! Thanks! Linda cajunC