It is tough enough for parents who have chronically ill or disabled children, and  navigating the world of health insurance can make it even harder.

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In an effort to help parents, the Children's Specialized Hospital, which operates 12 locations throughout New Jersey specializing in pediatric rehabilitation services, has come up with a new online tool to help those families choose the right insurance for their children.

"Many families admitted that navigating health insurance when they have children with severe disabilities has been a real challenge for them. Then, on top of that, many employers as well as the federal government are now giving people the option to choose their health plan from a variety of health plans on exchanges," said Amy Mansue, CEO and president of Children's Specialized Hospital.

The Health Insurance Education website includes features like a six-step guide to understanding insurance options, a glossary on insurance terms, tips from parents and an area where parents can compare their child's needs with what the insurance plans cover.

"There are two different pathways in the tool. One is for families that don't have time to read a thousand different things, but can look at the top six things that they need to know in order to chose a plan. The other pathway is for those families that want to delve into it and get all the answers to all the questions," Mansue said.

To develop the site, Mansue said they sat down with families and "asked them what they would need to know if they were faced with having to pick a plan from 100 different plans.

Whether it is reviewing what therapies are available or understanding the rules for out-of-pocket costs, the website will help families understand how many therapies are covered, if there are instances that determine whether they get those therapies and how much they need to budget to afford them.

The site was launched on Oct. 1, and was timed to coincide with the November open enrollment periods for most insurance plans, including Obamacare. So far, more than 3,000 have visited the website.

For more information including a video that details how to navigate the site, visit www.childrens-specialized.org.

 

 

 

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