You are not covered!

Usually this is an information blog, however, when I look back what happened to me today I decided I needed to write about this experience.

When I did my doctorate thesis, I did it on the difference in special education in the US vs Oman. This unfortunately is another slap in the face for Omani parents with special needs children or children with learning problems.

My son had an appointment this morning with Dr. Laura Do Vale, one of the leading psychologists in Muscat for children with learning disabilities and for children with other handicaps.  While I am a Dr. in educational psychology, I choose not to assess my own children. So my son’s pediatrician had recommended Dr. Laura.

We are covered by one of the largest insurance company in Oman- however when I went into the clinic they informed me that educational testing, IQ testing and behavior therapy are not covered under his medical insurance. Needless to say, I was shocked.

Then I started to think about the autistic children, children with ADHD and other conditions that need these services. Most children with autism as well as children with severe ADHD need bi-weekly behavior therapies. I was wondering if other parents were having the same problem with their insurance companies.  I asked some parents at the center, they said absolutely these services are not covered with their insurance plan. Either they have to take them to government hospitals or pay large sums of money at private hospitals and clinics.

In the United States, most HMOs or insurance companies are paying for psychological services for children that have been diagnosed with a learning difficulty or a handicap?  It is very frustrating to parents in Oman that this service is not being covered by insurance companies in the Sultanate. It is another step backwards for special education in Oman.

The insurance companies here need to look at the situation for special education students and cover this part of their medical. This is a very imperative part of the success of a child with learning disabilities and most important for an autistic child. The child needs mass sessions of behavior therapy and the parents need the guidance of a experience child psychologist.