How much does it cost to treat ADD and ADHD? And tips to save money

A few years ago, the daycare professional noted that your child tended to wander from play area to play area, not sticking with any given activity for more than a few minutes. Your child’s teacher last month during parent conferences that it is apparent that your child’s mind tends to wander during lesson time. And now, your child’s medical professional has delivered what has been suspected for years: a diagnosis with an attention disorder.

It’s normal to have multiple thoughts racing through one’s head following the diagnosis: What will this mean for my child’s education-or his/her career? What are the chances that younger siblings will also have ADD or ADHD? What will my extended family and friends think? Somewhere in that inner dialogue, this question is going to come up: How much is the treatment going to cost?

Take a deep breath and relax. Care providers will be more than happy to explain how costs of treatment can break out over time, as well as discuss cost-saving options when necessary. Here are a few frequently asked questions that families ask following an attention-disorder diagnosis:

How do the costs of ADHD treatment break down over time? Do these costs tend to be higher during certain phases of treatment or at different times during a patient’s lifespan?

As is the case for many lifelong conditions, the costs of treatment can vary depending on a number of factors, including access to insurance, the number of providers in an area, and degree of interest in exploring alternative therapies.

How much of these treatment costs are typically borne out of pocket? How much coverage can a typical family expect from insurance?

In terms of cost breakdown during phases of treatment, “it typically requires more out-of-pocket costs at the initial stages, as a physician must determine the type of disorder and the appropriate treatment, which, in turn, may take several sessions,” says Dr. Mark Zager, a Miami-area physician who works with ESA Care, a telemedicine service. “After that, the cost would reduce to a monthly checkup price plus the cost of a refill.”

How much does insurance tend to cover alternate methods of treatment, such as neurofeedback? Is any specific type of treatment more cost-effective in the long run?

The costs of appointments and of any prescriptions or additional therapies can vary greatly across insurance plans and coverage.

• Copays of $20 or $50 per visit are a typical price point across many insurers.
• Patients on a high-deductible plan or without insurance (or insured, yet are opting for out-of-network treatment) might expect out-of-pocket costs in the hundreds or thousands of dollars; some families might expect those costs just to be diagnosed.

Sit down with your medical provider and take a look at what is covered by your insurance. You might be surprised.

An attention disorder diagnosis can come to a family as a source of both shock and relief about a child’s course of treatment. Costs can be an understandable concern when charting out the best way to manage your child’s concentration. Keep in mind that there are myriad treatments out there that vary widely in price — giving you the flexibility to find an affordable option that best fits your child.

Originally published at https://narbis.com on January 30, 2020.