How Can Birth Injury Financial Support Help Me?
Birth injuries can require lifelong medical treatment to help children manage their conditions. Many families are unprepared to pay for costly treatment and medical expenses.
40%
of families of children with special health care needs experience a financial burden due to their child’s condition.
According to a study from Massachusetts General Hospital
Thankfully, birth injury financial support is available to help families afford the medical care their child needs. Families can access financial support through government programs, grants from nonprofit health organizations, and lawsuits.
Birth injury financial assistance can pay for:
- Assistive devices
- Medication
- Mobility aids
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Special education costs
- Speech therapy
- Surgery
- Transportation assistance
If you believe your child’s birth injury was caused by medical negligence, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Financial compensation secured through a birth injury lawsuit can help your family pay for your child’s treatment.
Get a free case review to see if you qualify to file for a legal claim.
Types of Financial Support for Birth Injuries
There are several types of need-based financial support options available to assist your family. Government assistance, lawsuits, and nonprofit grants are common forms of birth injury financial support. Learn more about the different birth injury financial support options below.
Birth Injury Lawsuits
Birth injury lawsuits can be filed against the negligent doctors and/or hospital that delivered your child and caused their injury.
Medical professionals are expected to uphold a high standard of care during childbirth. When healthcare providers make preventable mistakes during the birthing process, it may be considered medical negligence.
Filing a birth injury medical malpractice lawsuit can help you obtain the financial compensation needed to support your family and give your child the treatment they need.
Your attorney will:
- File your lawsuit
- Gather evidence
- Strengthen your claim
- Determine the best route to potentially win compensation
Do you suspect your child’s birth injury was caused by medical malpractice?
Grants
Birth injury grants for families in need are offered through nonprofit organizations and some state or federal government programs. Birth injury disability grants or housing grants can help families with special needs pay for medical treatment, adaptive equipment, and living expenses.
Birth injury grants include:
- Candid (formerly Foundation Center): Has an online database of grant opportunities that is updated quarterly. The database requires a paid subscription.
- Department of Developmental Services (DDS): Available to individuals with cerebral palsy who are also intellectually disabled and their families.
- Disabled Children’s Relief Fund: Available to pay for physical therapy, assistive equipment, and other medical necessities.
Financial Support for Home Modification
Home modifications are adjustments to help disabled individuals complete daily tasks and remove any physical barriers in their home. These barriers may prevent the person from entering or using a living space.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Fair Housing Act can help families afford home modifications.
Funding for home modification assistance for cerebral palsy can come from:
- Federally assisted housing
- Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
- Property Improvement Loans (Title I)
- Rehabilitation Loans (Section 203(k))
In addition to these programs, birth injury settlement compensation can also be used for your family’s home modification needs.
Medicaid
Medicaid offers health insurance coverage to low-income families. Medicaid is administered by the federal government, but can be accessed through your state government. Each state determines which services are available through Medicaid. Check with your local government officials to see if Medicaid covers your child’s specific condition.
Low-income families are often eligible for Medicaid. Applications are processed through your state’s Medicaid agency or through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Services covered under Medicaid may include:
- Communication devices
- Home care
- Inpatient/outpatient care
- Medications
- Medical supplies
- Psychological services
- Transportation
Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for the elderly and those with disabilities. Individuals who receive Social Security Disability Insurance are automatically eligible for Medicare regardless of their age.
Medicare coverage is divided into three categories:
Medicare Part A (hospital insurance)
Covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care
Medicare Part B (medical insurance)
Covers certain doctor visits, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services
Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage)
Covers the cost of prescription drugs and many recommended vaccinations
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program made to ensure children maintain access to nutritious food they need to stay healthy.
Formerly known as the Food Stamp program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can help eligible families buy nutritious food for their disabled child that they couldn’t otherwise afford. SNAP benefits are generally distributed by the states and come in the form of debit cards.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federal program that disburses money to provide low-income families with financial assistance and other support services.
Unemployed or low-income U.S. citizens, legal aliens, and permanent residents are eligible for TANF.
How to Qualify
Applicants also must meet one of the following requirements
- Be pregnant
- Care for a child 18 years old or younger
- Be 18 years of age or younger and the head of your household
Each state determines its own TANF benefit for its residents. In addition to cash assistance, states generally offer child care, pre-school education, child welfare, work support, refundable tax credits, and other benefits through TANF funds. Check with your local officials to see which benefits are available.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal program that gives financial assistance for supplemental food for pregnant women and women with young children.
Women must meet several residential, income, and nutritional risk requirements to qualify for WIC.
Benefits of WIC include:
- Breastfeeding education and support
- Individual counseling and referrals for health services
- Dental health counseling
- Nutrition education to promote healthy eating habits
- Vaccination record checks
- Vouchers to purchase nutritious food
In addition to WIC benefits, your family may also be eligible to see compensation through a legal claim.
If your child suffered a preventable birth injury, you may be able to seek financial support through a birth injury lawsuit. Get a free case review to see if you qualify for legal help.
Do you suspect your child’s birth injury was caused by medical malpractice?
Get Birth Injury Financial Assistance
Birth injuries can be emotionally and financially draining. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lifetime cost to care for a child with cerebral palsy is $1.6 million in 2023 dollars.
$1 Million
The estimated lifetime cost for caring for a child with cerebral palsy
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Thankfully, families can offset the high costs of cerebral palsy or other birth injuries using many of the financial support options listed above.
Many federal birth injury financial support programs can be accessed through your local government. Contact a government official near you to learn more about your financial assistance eligibility, application, and benefits. Financial support programs may vary from state to state
Further, our team can help you pursue legal compensation right now if your child suffered a birth injury due to medical malpractice. Get a free case review to see if you are qualified to file a birth injury lawsuit.