OCD Facts: Affordability

When Money is a Problem

If parents tell you they can’t afford treatment for their child with OCD, it can present a difficult situation; without proper treatment, the OCD won’t go away.  The student will likely experience increasingly greater difficulties with academics (e.g., poor grades) and social isolation without treatment. There are a few ideas you might share with parents who have financial challenges.  Encourage them to:

  • Talk with their insurance company about coverage.  Many policies have provisions for mental health treatment.  They may need to be persistent to ensure the insurance company understands that Cognitive Behavior Therapy is the treatment of choice for OCD, or that medication may be needed to treat this disorder.
  • Check with therapists to see if they use a sliding fee scale in which fees are based on ability to pay.   Cognitive Behavior Therapy is usually not available free of charge, as most therapists who offer this treatment are in private practice, not funded by a major healthcare system or government.
  • Try to obtain medications at a reduced price, if medications are prescribed.  A number of resources offer information about prescription assistance, including:

Parents should also learn as much as they can about OCD so that they make the best decisions for their child’s future.  OCD Chicago’s web site offers parents information about OCD, treatment and living with OCD in the family.  Visit the Parents section of the web site.  

Back to OCD Facts