Supplemental Insurance for Military who Adopt

Most kids who are internationally adopted need extra health care. Part of prospective adoptive parent preparation is being aware of resources. Hat tip to a reader who passed this information on to us about the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) for active Military. See here.

This may help with some of the postplacement , special needs costs, but as for the segment of behavioral health coverage, you should not assume that all typical needs of the international adoptee are covered.

From the website:

“Qualifying conditions include:

• Moderate or severe mental retardation
• A serious physical disability
• A physical or psychological condition that causes the beneficiary to be homebound.”

“Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) benefits may include:

• Medical and rehabilitative services
• Training to use assistive technology devices
• Special education
• Institutional care when a residential environment is required
• Transportation for institutionalized beneficiaries to receive authorized ECHO benefits.
• Assistive services, such as those from a qualified interpreter or translator
• Durable equipment, including adaptation and maintenance
• In-home medical services through ECHO Home Health Care (EHHC)
• In-home respite care services
  • ECHO respite care: 16 hours per month when receiving other authorized ECHO benefits
  • EHHC respite care: up to 40 hours per week (eight hours per day, five days per week) for those who qualify
  • Only one can be used in the same calendar month, they cannot be used together.
  • Only available in the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Educational Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders (EIA) services through the Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration“

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