Financial Support for Cerebral Palsy
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy comes with a lot of complications, but one of the worst aspects of the condition is the financial burden families face when trying to provide the best care for their loved one. A person with cerebral palsy often needs extensive treatments to cope with their injury and other co-occurring conditions, and medical bills can stack up quickly. It’s common for people with cerebral palsy to need physical therapy, occupational therapy, mobility aids, support services, and even surgery.
The costs for these various treatments can become overwhelming, but you should know that there are resources available to you that can help relieve some of that economic pressure. No one should have to deny somebody their necessary medical treatments in order to save money. There are both private and public resources out there that can provide a wide array of services to assist with education, housing, and care giving.
The costs for these various treatments can become overwhelming, but you should know that there are resources available to you that can help relieve some of that economic pressure. No one should have to deny somebody their necessary medical treatments in order to save money. There are both private and public resources out there that can provide a wide array of services to assist with education, housing, and care giving.
Public Benefits & Resources
The government offers different financial benefits to assist families affected by cerebral palsy. These options consist of benefit programs, scholarships, grants, and subsidized loans. The most common governmental resources utilized include Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Medicaid.
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Social Security Benefits
The government offers different financial benefits to assist families affected by cerebral palsy. These options consist of benefit programs, scholarships, grants, and subsidized loans. The most common governmental resources utilized include Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Medicaid. |
Special Education Services
Children with cerebral palsy may be eligible to receive publicly funded special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a federally mandated program aimed at providing children with disabilities specialized education based on their needs, including early intervention services. |
Medicaid
For low-income families who lack the health insurance needed to cover treatments, Medicaid is a publicly funded healthcare service that can provide necessary coverage. Medicaid can provide health insurance coverage for children with cerebral palsy in financially qualified families. |
Private Resources & Organizations
Since cerebral palsy is a well-known and common disability, there are many private, non-profit organizations created specifically to help affected families with financial assistance.
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United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) - Belows Fund
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is one of the oldest and largest charities in the U.S. for people with CP and other disabilities. This fund is designed to help families afford the technological equipment needed for their child with cerebral palsy. Qualified families can receive funds to purchase mobility devices or assistive technology tools that can help their child move or communicate. |
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Ability Found
This is another non-profit, private organization that provides aid and support to people with physical disabilities who do not have insurance coverage. Ability Found gets charitable donations and then uses that money to help supply medical equipment to families living with cerebral palsy. Ability Found purchases the equipment at a discounted price and then distributes them to families based on what they need. |
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Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA)
Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) can be beneficial for people with cerebral palsy who struggle or are unable to walk independently. CHASA offers grants to families for the purchase of mobility devices, such as crutches or other walking aids. This organization also offers scholarships and other educational opportunities to families in need. |
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Medical Malpractice Claims
A lawsuit may sound like a strange way to receive financial assistance for cerebral palsy, but this option can actually yield great benefits to your family that could last a lifetime. Even though it is not a traditional program, lawsuits can pay out large amounts of compensation that can sometimes cover most, if not all, treatments for the condition. Cerebral palsy is a brain injury caused at birth, but in many cases, the injury occurred due to medical negligence or error by a doctor during the delivery process.
If your child developed cerebral palsy from being hurt by a doctor’s careless actions, you may be qualified to make a medical malpractice claim against them. Deciding to go through with a lawsuit involves a lengthy application process similar to other benefit programs, but the results can be worth your time.
The difference between a traditional benefits program and a lawsuit is that while benefit programs offer only limited financial support, a successful lawsuit can include compensation that is life-changing and can potentially cover all costs. If the family can prove that someone was at fault for their child’s condition, the defendants will be forced to step up and pay for virtually every treatment cost. This includes both past and present medical expenses, technological and mobility equipment, therapies, caregivers, and basically anything else that was necessary to care for the child. The majority of settlements for this kind of lawsuit includes a Life Care Plan. A Life Care Plan is a report compiled by a team of experts to create a total cost estimate for a child’s cerebral palsy over the course of their life.
Medical malpractice lawsuits should be seen like any other resource for financial assistance. It’s another possible option to you that can provide significant financial relief. The one downside to a medical malpractice lawsuit is the time and effort needed to go through with the claims process, but there is support available to help guide you through all of the necessary steps.
If your child developed cerebral palsy from being hurt by a doctor’s careless actions, you may be qualified to make a medical malpractice claim against them. Deciding to go through with a lawsuit involves a lengthy application process similar to other benefit programs, but the results can be worth your time.
The difference between a traditional benefits program and a lawsuit is that while benefit programs offer only limited financial support, a successful lawsuit can include compensation that is life-changing and can potentially cover all costs. If the family can prove that someone was at fault for their child’s condition, the defendants will be forced to step up and pay for virtually every treatment cost. This includes both past and present medical expenses, technological and mobility equipment, therapies, caregivers, and basically anything else that was necessary to care for the child. The majority of settlements for this kind of lawsuit includes a Life Care Plan. A Life Care Plan is a report compiled by a team of experts to create a total cost estimate for a child’s cerebral palsy over the course of their life.
Medical malpractice lawsuits should be seen like any other resource for financial assistance. It’s another possible option to you that can provide significant financial relief. The one downside to a medical malpractice lawsuit is the time and effort needed to go through with the claims process, but there is support available to help guide you through all of the necessary steps.