Medical Formula and Food
Some medical conditions require your child to use special formula and food. The formula and food may be needed to keep your child healthy. This impacts not only your child, but your entire family.
With most children, you introduce new foods without a lot of direction. With a child on a medical diet, you will work closely with a dietician and specialty clinic staff. They can help you learn how to find nutrition that best suits your child’s health condition.
You will become a master of reading food labels. You will learn to look for ingredients that need to be avoided. You may even shed a happy tear when you find food you can purchase at the local grocery store instead of having to order online.
A big challenge can be when you want to go out to eat. You must plan ahead when going to a restaurant or events to make sure there is something your child can eat. You will learn where the best places are for your entire family to eat, including when you will need to pack special food and formula.
Learning from other families with similar diagnoses may be helpful. They can answer questions about daily challenges, such as:
- How do you go to a fast-food restaurant and order appropriate foods?
- What types of fruit snacks are ok for your child?
- How do you find a daycare that will adhere to your child’s diet?
- Where do you order special food and how do you get medical formula?
Things that seem simple to other families may feel overwhelming when your child has a special diet to follow. Each step is a transition. It is a time to learn and grow. You are your child’s teacher. This is important so he or she will be able to manage independently one day. Use your resources to help you and your child adapt to what may be a lifetime of following a special diet.
Insurance Coverage for Medical Food and Formula
Insurance coverage for special food and formula varies from state to state and you might hit difficulties. There are insurance coaches available to assist with navigating the insurance maze. You can find an insurance coach through established support groups or through a specialty clinic. An insurance coach has worked with other families like yours. They can help with special insurance coding for coverage of formula and food.
“No” doesn’t always mean “No” when it comes to insurance denials and you will learn how to advocate to get what is needed to keep your child healthy.
