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Birth Defects and the Health Care System

When you first learn that your child will suffer from a birth defect, the odds are very good that you will be handed a list of resources. Many of these resources will deal with home health care, depending on the needs anticipated, emotional support for you and other caregivers, and perhaps also a bit of advice on dealing with the health care issues involved. It is an open secret that birth defects and the health care system are sometimes on opposite sides of the equation.

While the health care system should be designed to take care of you and your child's birth defects, the fact that many health care plans and physician referral structures are more Byzantine than the United States tax code does not bode well for a parent who is sleep deprived, suffers from the anger and sadness brought on by a heartbreaking medical diagnosis, and is uncertain how to interpret the legalese of the fine print which makes up most of the health insurance documents.

Do not give up and permit your child to be denied services needed or suggested! Instead, begin your journey within the confines of the health care system by understanding your health insurance choices and then picking wisely. Your child cannot legally be denied coverage under your existing plan and you will be wise to sit down with a representative of the insurance company to fully understand your coverage, co-payments, co-insurance, and in-network versus out of network coverage, specialist referral rules, and pre-certification requirements.

Furthermore, once you have nailed down your insurance coverage and understand what you have in the way of benefits, you are now in a good position to find a pediatrician who specializes in dealing with children suffering from the birth defects your child will have. Carefully interview prospective physicians with an eye to the availability to affiliated specialists; get a feel for the doctor's treatment philosophy and also availability to parents with questions and anxieties. While a brilliant doctor with a poor bedside manner is always preferable to one with poor medical knowledge but great people skills, the fact that the United States has a large number of qualified physicians will ensure that you will be able to find one where you will have both medical astuteness and soft skills.

Once your child is born, you will become very familiar with the corridors of the local hospital and physician's waiting room décor. While it is time consuming, frustrating, and at times borderline exasperating, do not ever decline a suggested test or cancel a check up. Even if you do not understand the usefulness of physical therapy of your three month old infant who cannot even roll over at this point, trust that the doctor, whom you interviewed prior to the birth of your child, and the therapist are working as a team for the good of your child. Careful selection of the doctor in the first place should have assured you that she or he is not trying to rack up billable hours but indeed has your child's best interest at heart.