If it s a communication device, for example, medical insurance payers, public and private, are not interested in the patient s need to communicate at school. They want to know the device is for communicating basic needs at home. Some private payers may not cover communication devices, such as a computer that says the words the patient types. If you have private insurance, try that source first. Then try public insurance, such as Medicaid.
States vary in how they provide assistance.
Tennessee, for example, has mobile assessment teams that visit patients in their communities. If you are seeking aid for special educational or vocational equipment, it s best to involve professional educators, nurses and therapists in developing a plan for the patient. They can help you produce a report stating why the device is needed. They also can be helpful later in training family members in using the equipment. Further, the team can assist if the payer denies the funding request.