The healthcare system is an expensive maze, this post aims to explain what services to seek based on how sick your child is. We also want to promote the best use of insurance and getting medical expenses covered because thats what insurance is for. If your family is paying a monthly premium and utilizing medical services there are plenty of tips and tricks to keep costs low.
To start a pediatrician, no matter your belief in medical care, is a good thing for your child to see frequently in the first year and check in with yearly after that. Establishing a relationship and following current recommendations continues to prove the decrease of preventable diseases. In the case you pay a monthly premium for insurance it is best to visit the company website and find a covered practitioner in your area. Most plans cover well visits and have varying cost for sick visits depending on the office you utilize.
It is important for emergency reasons you find out what pharmacy, laboratory (blood work), hospital, and imaging (Ct scan, Xray) services are covered as well. A simple co pay at one hospital may not be covered at all for another. Knowing this before an emergency happens can decrease the stress involved in getting your child the best care possible. Clinics and government services are available for all children to be covered and safe, but in the case you are in between coverage, utilizing your child's Pediatrician is typically cheaper than
emergency services. Simply calling and explaining the insurance situation is much easier with an established relationship. Most times if a simple medication is needed it can just be called in.
When your child is sick but is not experiencing life threatening symptoms the best start is to call the pediatrician. Most offices have a sick kid line, you get to speak with a pediatric nurse who has plenty of experience in helping parents help their kids. They will let you know if
there is anything you can do and if your child needs to be seen in office or at an emergency room. If this is not an option, the least invasive and least expensive would be a minute clinic or urgent care. If you have already identified which facilities are covered it makes the process smoother, the same for if the Emergency Room is needed. An important aspect of Emergency room usage is to remember your child may need to be admitted and, in that case, does the hospital you utilize care for pediatric patients. A pro tip is to research your closest covered children's hospital for emergency services because kids are definitely not little adults. Pediatrics is a specialty for a reason and every single specialty in adult medicine is available for kids but it is most often found in the children's hospitals.
Most overpayment in medications happens when non emergent but necessary medications are needed for your sick child. Having an established pharmacy during your kids young years can really help but when insurance or jobs change this can change as well. If you need to use a pharmacy out of network or your in between coverage there are coupons for everything. Good Rx is one of the easiest ways to get one time medications at a reasonable price when you have no other option. Manufacturer coupons are normally available on newer medications so researching the drug name and brand can reduce the burden of medication costs.
Lastly medical device is a frequent pit fall for parents. If your child is insured you shouldn't have the burden of paying full price for the equipment they need. Most necessary medical devices are mostly covered. The easiest way to get the equipment you need is to go to a DME (Durable Medical Equipment) company website and fill out the request form. This form sends the request to your child insurance and physician for approval then they deliver the equipment to you.
Understanding how the healthcare system works is valuable knowledge for all parents. Keeping costs low while giving your child the best care is possible and we are here to support each and every parent in their journey.
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