Insurance Insight

If you live with epilepsy or have a child with epilepsy, navigating health insurance and managing costs can be overwhelming and confusing. But don’t panic we’ve got you covered.

Understand your plan.
Constantly communicate with your insurance company, physician, and pharmacist to better understand your covered benefits, out-of-pocket costs, and how to access care.

Understand your costs.
Out-of-pocket costs for your care and medications can vary greatly by health plan and location. Ask questions and shop around to find the best option for you. 

Remember the four Ps.
Even with good coverage, certain procedures, specialist visits, or tests may come with varying costs or may not be covered. So it’s important to remember the four Ps—persistence, patience, paperwork, and politeness when working with insurance companies. Maintaining civility and respect during frustrating interactions will help move things along. Just keep in mind that not all insurance problems can be resolved.

Find low-cost and free health clinics.
If you don’t have health coverage, there are community health centers that offer sliding scales based on income. You can search online for one near you using the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Data Warehouse or through healthcare.gov.

Originally printed in EpilepsyAdvocate, Fall 2018.