In the past, large numbers of persons with epilepsy were committed to psychiatric hospitals or institutions for persons with mental retardation. This usually happened because their seizures were uncontrolled, or because they were thought to be mentally iB or have mental retardation. Today, almost all states' laws make it clear that a person cannot be hospitalized against his will merely because he has epilepsy. There are, however, quite a large number of people in institutions who have other medical conditions and who also have seizure disorders. Getting the right kind of medical care for seizures is often very difficult for these people.
Some states have laws or constitutions granting people in institutions a right to treatment.
These laws may be used to force improvements in medical care. Just because a person has epilepsy does not mean that he or she is unable to work. However, when epilepsy is so severe that a person is truly disabled by it, financial benefits may be available. In some cases people whose seizures do not occur at regular intervals may also be able to show they are disabled. People who meet the disability requirements may also be able to get Medicare or Medicaid coverage.