Child Mental Health Financial Assistance

[lihle101]

My step-son is diagnosed with a myriad of psycological disorders stemming from his biological mother.  We are on our third in patient facility since the end of January.  The facility he is in now is a long term treatment center however my insurance benefits are limited in regards to this type of treatment and we are also tasked with having to seek facilities out of state b/c Louisiana has no long term facilities at all.  SSI has indicated that we make too much to qualify for any benefits (even medical only which is all we are seeking) and Medicaid is evaluating us for having him on the state program, however the facilities out of state do not take Louisiana state Medicaid.

Are you aware of any programs to help families like us?  Even after insurance, we owe $1600-$3000 a month and once insurance reaches its maximum benefit, this will go up to almost $12,000 a month.  If he doesn't get the long term treatment he so desperately needs I fear that he will enter the juvenile system soon upon his return home.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I am sorry I do not know of any one place you can go for that assistance, the whole medial system is such a complicated maze, and what you want is so particular...you might try contacting some of the patient advocate sites on the web through the search engines.

[millermom]

I am in a very similar situation right now. My 15yr old is diagnosed with bi-polar w/psychotic features, adhd,odd,and ocd. He was hospitalized for the month of April and came home May 6th, he was just admitted to a state hospital on Tuesday. My insurance does not cover anything long term as well. I don't know how old your son is but I am pushing the school district to pay for it. The Education Laws state that every child is entitled to a "Free and Public Education". If there is not an appropriate place for him to be educated close to home where he can be bussed back and forth than they have to pay for the residential. It is more complicated and tough to go that route but if you have hospital and professional references and recommendations that state he needs that then you have a chance. Also, check out www.nami.org, and www.ed.gov. Nami in your area should be very helpful. Trying to get help in the mental health system in the US is very scarce, tough and exhausting. I hope you can get all the help your son needs right now. I wish you the best.