UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSURANCE POLICY can make the difference between managing to keep your finances stable and bankruptcy. Many families find themselves fending off collection agencies while they are trying to save their child’s life. Another trial for parents is keeping track of paper work—both medical and financial. But having accurate records can help prevent medical errors and reduce insurance overbillings. Having easy access to medical reports and properly organizing bills can also mean less time spent in conflicts with insurance companies and collection agencies.

This chapter describes how to understand your insurance policy and ways to work with the insurance company to cover bills. It also offers some suggestions about keeping both medical and financial records. Finally, it covers ways to find financial assistance.