Private and Public Health Insurance for Early Intervention Services

Published information is scarce regarding the extent to which public and private health insurance will reimburse health-related services needed by infants and toddlers with developmental delays. To learn about financing opportunities for services to young children with disabilities, two national surveys were conducted: one of state Medicaid programs and one of firms offering health insurance to employees. Data were collected concerning coverage of various services needed by children with disabilities including ancillary therapies, mental health services, and case management Overall, the survey results reveal that while both private plans and Medicaid offer significant opportunities for the financing of health-related early intervention services, Medicaid offers the greatest potential for extensive coverage of needed services.