There is no reason why any child should have to go without proper mental health care benefits. If insurance is unavailable, there are options for affordable coverage.
Unfortunately, many people in this country work without any type of medical benefits. When these workers and their families become ill they are faced with a doctor's bill. Doctor's bills can be quite expensive. Fortunately, minor illnesses can be addressed in one visit. What if a worker or their dependant requires mental health attention? Mental health can be expensive, as it is usually necessary to go continuously over a period of time. Should a child suffer mental and/or emotional anguish because they have no mental health coverage? No they shouldn't, because there are options. There is affordable mental health coverage.
The first place one should look when seeking children's mental health care coverage is Medicaid. Medicaid is a federally funded health insurance program. It is designed for the poor, as well as the working poor. There are income restrictions that one must meet to qualify for the program. Medicaid provides inpatient as well as outpatient mental health care coverage. Contact the county social service department for an application. You can also download an application, and receive income restriction information on line.
One may find that they make too much money to be eligible for Medicaid. Fortunately there are sliding fee providers. Sliding fee providers are providers that charge their patients based upon the patient's income. A chart is designed with various income ranges. Each range has a parallel dollar amount associated with it, as a fee. As the income range decreases, so does the fee amount.
Sliding fee providers are usually not for profit agencies that may or may not receive government grants. The providers are usually social workers with Master of Social Work or Licensed Clinical Social Worker accreditations, not psychologists. They provide counseling and psychotherapy, but are not qualified to prescribe medication. There is usually one psychiatrist (who is a medical doctor) on staff to dispense medication prescriptions.
Children may also receive free mental health counseling through school. Guidance counselors provide minimal mental health care. They function more as listeners, advisors and referral issuers for social issues that a child may have. If mental health care is deemed necessary, a guidance counselor will refer a student to the school psychologist. The psychologist is unable to counsel the student during school hours. He or she can also refer the child to an outside psychiatrist, if medication is deemed necessary.
Sometimes a child is faced with a crisis, and needs immediate attention. Mental health crisis hotlines provide immediate phone counseling, support and referrals for follow up. Crisis hotlines are toll free and the counseling is free. The local numbers are usually listed in the phone book, or may be accessible via the Internet.
There is no reason why any child should have to go without proper mental health care benefits. If a parent has no insurance, there are options for affordable coverage. There are government programs as well as not for profit agencies. Even the school will become involved, and assist a child who needs mental health care. Don't let money be an obstacle in getting a child the mental health that they need.
