That title is variation stolen from a goofy 1930s comedy song titled ‘There's No One With Endurance Like the Man Who Sells Insurance”

Here, take a listen if you can stomach it….it's sure to wreck your day as find yourself humming this awful ditty.

The lesson today is about insurance, specifically insurance to help get children with autism much needed services.

Health Insurance is a nightmare; plain and simple. How many times have you received an inaccurate doctors bill? An issue with coverage? That slippery ‘out of network’ provider trap? Or my favorite, that Credit Card request while you are STILL in the ambulance?

The landscape of healthcare is cumbersome, confusing and frustrating from all sides of the equation. As it relates to autism services, double the frustration. Having gone through it as a parent and now as a provider, I realize just how complex it really is. The fact is this, autism related coverage for services is a relatively new phenomenon to healthcare, but with the overwhelming prevalence of this diagnosis, reform has finally been achieved and (most) health insurance companies have an autism program under their umbrella of covered treatments.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is accessing it. It is like a riddle wrapped inside maze smothered in a stack of haystacks amongst a needle. That make sense to you? No? Then neither will the process to secure treatment for your child or loved one.

A few tips of advice…

Have your act together

Be sure to have all of the pertinent information about your child’s diagnosis at your fingertips, and ready to send off accordingly. Doctor’s reports, letters of medical necessity, school reports…anything. And be sure it is up to date. Every insurer has very different requirements, but trust me they all want LOTS of information before they will deem you eligible.

Find the right department

That infamous Customer Service line phone number on the back of your insurance card is on the keys to the front door. You will need a keychain the Building Superintendent to get any further. Be patient and get to the appropriate department that can answer your questions and help you. Once you do, get a name(s) and direct line to that group. Write it down. Don’t lose it.

Be patient

See above.

Lean on your provider

Whatever supplemental service you are seeking (home based, in-clinic, respite, etc.) talk to the agency you are hoping to assist you. They are most certainly there to help you and your child. The ol’ ‘two heads are better than one’ theory is very true in this instance

And the best, yet most basic, advice I can offer you is this?

DO NOT QUIT!

Repeat, do not quit. You will find yourself frustrated and ready to throw in (sometimes want to hang myself with) the towel. Call and call again. Plead your case for what and why you need this assistance. In the end, you will win (at least in some capacity). Fight for exactly what you want and need. Believe it or not, insurance companies are not the Devil (maybe the Devil’s stepbrother or at least a cousin) but they are there to help. Remember, you pay their salaries every month, don’t be afraid to be a P.I.T.A. (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pita) It works.

If all else fails, kick back and have a cocktail….and then call back!

It Takes Endurance to Get That Insurance

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