Paying Kids’ Medical Bills
Parents are responsible for their child’s needs Love, education, health, and more. However, one of the most stressful situations is the financial burden of caring for a sick child. Managing the payment of your kids’ medical bills is emotionally draining.
But, allow us to share some helpful information about handling unplanned health expenses, and health risks (especially those that are not covered by insurance).
Handling Unplanned Health Expenses
Health expenses are either planned and unplanned. Planned health expenses are preventative steps, such as taking health supplements and getting vaccinations. But, unplanned expenses are those caused by sickness or injuries from accidents.
As a result, the best way to prepare for both types of medical expenses is by getting your child insured in a health plan. Ask your employer if you can add your child to your family plan. There are also plans provided by the government, as well as private insurance companies.
Paying Kids Medical Bills Not Covered by Insurance
In general, most medical expenses are covered by your child’s insurance policy. Just check the fine print of your coverage terms. However, sometimes there are still certain medical expenses not covered, like the following:
- Dental and vision expenses
- Sports-related injury
- Psychological or mental health issues
- Alternative treatment and therapies
If you find yourself required to pay for these out-of-the-pocket, then consider personal loans for medical expenses. There are a lot of options for flexible payment terms.
Other ways of paying kids’ medical bills are:
- Finding a medical institution offering free or low-cost treatments (safety-net hospitals – 170 locations throughout the U.S.
- Filing for a claim on your tax return (the Internal Revenue Service offers up to $4000 per qualifying child).
Mold and Allergies: Common Yet Unnoticeable Health Risks
Another way to lessen medical expenses is to educate yourself about common health risks, especially those that can go unnoticed — like mold! Black mold produces poisoning that sometimes causes migraines, muscle pains and memory loss in both kids and adults. In fact, studies prove that mold is a common cause of aasthma development in children from one to seven years of age.
Is Allergy Covered by Insurance?
Speaking of asthma, do you know what else may cause it? Allergic reactions. Fortunately, most allergy treatments and therapies are usually covered by insurance companies. Don’t take our word for it, though. The best way to make sure of this is to contact your insurance provider directly and confirm the coverage with them.
As far as our experience goes, allergy treatment and therapy are generally covered. But, most of the procedures require a deductible.
Let’s Talk About Child Support
Medical expenses for separated families get a bit more complicated. The parents should have a court approved agreement defining their financial responsibilities— uninsured medical expenses included. This agreement takes into consideration each of the parents’ capacity to pay, while ensuring the child’s best interest.
However, due to various circumstances, the parent who is granted custody of the child is expected to cover the expenses initially, especially during emergency situations. You are required to keep a copy of all your bills and receipts, though, so that you may simply reimburse your expenses from the responsible party at a later date.
To Sum It Up…
Medical expenses can really be tough to handle. Fortunately, there are various health insurance policies that a parent can enroll for the child. Other efficient ways to lessen medical expenses are by investing in preventative options, like immunizations, and educating ourselves on the various health risks so we can take measures to lessen exposure.
As for uninsured medical expenses, there are various steps that you can take in order to lower the cost and seek financial assistance.
Lastly, for families with child support issues, a prearranged agreement is made in court to determine the party responsible the child’s medical expenses. Nobody wants a child to get sick, but it’s still smart to prepare for unforeseen circumstances beforehand. We wish your family good health. See you in the next article!
Guest article written by Ana-Marie Sanders. www.loanstart.com