SINCE INSURANCE PROGRAMS vary so widely from one country to another, and one insurance company to another, this part provides only general recommendations. The most important thing to keep in mind is that getting and maintaining health insurance for your child is a critical step in obtaining the care he or she will need along the way. There are a variety of resources available to help you navigate the challenges relating to insurance, including your state's insurance commissioner's office (http://www.patientrights.com/links/links7.htm) and the National MS Society.
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| Multiple Sclerosis Health Insurance Coverage |
The Society chapter closest to you (call 1800-FIGHT-MS) can help you find answers to your insurance questions, and Georgetown University maintains a website that describes health insurance options in each state (www.healthinsuranceinfo.net).
In the meantime, familiarize yourself with the coverage offered by your current policy. You will be in a far better position to advocate for your child if you have spent time getting to know the basic elements of your plan, including:
- Eligibility requirements (who is covered under what circumstances).
- Benefits (which services/treatments are specifically included or excluded and what are the limits on the coverage provided).
- Regulatory information (who is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the plan, and to whom would appeals be addressed if needed).
- Coverage parameters affecting cost (how can you utilize your plan most effectively to minimize out-of-pocket costs).
- Grievance procedures (what is the grievance/appeal process).
WHILE MS IS only one part of your life with your child, it obviously adds some additional complexities to the parent-child relationship. Some of the major concerns that parents have raised about how to help their child along the way are addressed.
Talking about the Diagnosis
PARENTS OFTEN WONDER how much information about MS they should share with their child. No parents want to make their children anxious or sad, and no parents wants to see their children having to deal with life's tougher realities any sooner than necessary. The fact is, however, that children know when they do not feel well and they know when their parents are worried or upset. If they sense that something is different or awry, their imaginations will quickly fill in the blanks - typically with something even more frightening than whatever the reality actually is.
Your best strategy is to begin sharing age-appropriate information (including the name of the disease) with your child from the beginning. Without this information, it will be much more difficult - and stressful - for your child as he or she undergoes neurologic exams, tests, and treatments. Obviously, five-year-olds do not need or understand as many of the details as teenagers do; and their style of listening, learning, and questioning will be quite different, but the sharing of information can help any child feel more comfortable with the diagnosis and treatment process. There are other benefits as well to this kind of openness:
- When children have a better understanding of what is going on, they feel less like victims and more like active participants. Rather than things being done "to them," they feel safer and more involved in the process of dealing with the MS.
- Honesty and open communication promote feelings of trust and confidence among family members. They set the stage for shared problem-solving and mutual support in the future, and eliminate the need for secrets relating to MS or any other issues that may come along.
- Children gain a feeling of security when they sense that their parents are being open and honest. When parents come across as secretive, unwilling to share information, or afraid to discuss certain topics, children quickly assume that the truth is too awful to deal with, too frightening to handle.
- Talking openly with children about MS gives them "permission" to ask their questions and share their feelings and concerns. It also gives them the vocabulary they need to put them into words.
If you are feeling uncertain about how to proceed - and most parents do - the healthcare team, the Family Network, and/or a family counselor can help you figure out age-appropriate ways to begin the discussions with your child. To find out more, you can check out Multiple Sclerosis Health Insurance Coverage.