With the start of a new plan year for many private insurance policies and with the roll-out of a number of Idaho Medicaid changes–we are commonly asked by money conscious parents if there is anything they can do to help them financially afford their children’s therapies. The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES!
Below is a brief overview of four of the most commonly shared grants and programs that we see parents use every single day. RSI isn’t involved with any of these grants and doesn’t provide guarantees, but we love seeing families save money while they help their children. For more information about any of these grants, please give one of our pediatric offices a call. We’ll share what we know to the best of our abilities, and point you in the right direction for the details!
Empowering Parents
-All Idaho school aged children are eligible regardless of whether they attend a public school, private school or are homeschooled.
Parents use funds to shop through approved vendors in the Empowering Parents online marketplace. **RSI is an approved vendor and all RSI pediatric therapies can be paid for with grant funds.**
https://empoweringparents.idaho.gov/
United Healthcare Children’s Foundation
-Child must have private health insurance. (Doesn’t have to be United Health Care).
-Child must be 16 years of age or younger at the time of application.
-Child must have a Social Security Number
-Family must not exceed maximum eligible family income (see website)
-Child is under the care of a licensed medical professional
Awarded funds help parents cover costly deductibles and copays. Funds can be used to pay approved medical bills (**such as speech, occupational, or physical therapy bills at RSI**). Funds can also be used to reimburse parents previously paid medical bills if made during an approved period of time.
Idaho Katie Beckett Program
-To qualify for the Katie Beckett program the child must meet eligibility criteria for a complex medical need, a developmental disability, a physical disability, or a combination of those needs.
-Not based on income.
Katie Beckett provides the child with either a primary or secondary medical insurance that has no/very little (less than $5 is what we’ve personally seen) OOP responsibility. **RSI is in-network with those who have Katie Beckett coverage.**
https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/medicaid-health/about-katie-beckett-program
Youth Empowerment Services (YES!) Program
-Child must be 18 years of age or younger.
-Have income under 300% Federal Poverty Level (if income is higher, small cost sharing is available–if your familiy didn’t qualify for typical Medicaid you might qualify for this).
-Complete an assessment that identifies a functional impairment.
**RSI is in-network with those who have YES! Coverage.**
https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/…/youth-empowerment…
Unsure if your child needs speech, physical or occupational therapy? Check out these links!