Overall: The costs are covered by a variety of sources. There is a fair amount out there...if you qualify...but you have to look for it.
In the United States
Things like bracing and wheelchairs and OT or PT sessions are typically covered by one's own health insurance.
After that, one can look to MDA to help cover some expenses. MDA does not yet support HNPP as a separate disease. They will consider individuals on a case by case basis. And they do have restrictions and limitations to how much and how often they will do things.
Adaptations to the car ....well, if you buy a new one, the big three automakers have rebate programs in the range of one thousand dollars to adapt the car. Or we pay ourselves or we look for assistance in the community.
If one qualifies, there is public assistance (welfare).
Department of Economic Security: If you live in the US, the department of economic security will help some individuals with disabilities in purchasing equipment needed to become or stay employed.
If you have worked 20 quarters of a year, in the past 10 years, you could qualify for social security disability (www.ssa.gov). after two years on social security, one can get medicare, which also helps pay for some of the personal medical items such as braces.
Each state is to have a technology resource office where people with disabilities can get information about which organizations are doing what to help. This applies to house adaptations too.
In 1988 Congress passed the Technology Related Assistance of Individuals with Disabilities Act. This Act gave funds to states to plan, coordinate and disseminate information about technology and services and how to acquire it for people with disabilities. each state has set up a technology resource office to disseminate this information. These offices include information about both public and private sources of funding available within the state. They are invaluable resources of information!
One Canadian reader wrote " Here in Canada, at least to my knowledge, the same places apply. MDA, Social Services will pay for things like splints and meds. CPP (Social Security) provide the pensions and nothing else, unless you are over 65. For other things like wheelchairs, and beds, etc, I would talk to the local Lions Club."
Links to the various states will be completed eventually. If you know the link for this service in your state, please forward it to me so it can be added to this site.
US Resources:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Canada - Alberta
Canada - British Columbia
Canada -Manitoba
Canada -Ontario
Canada - Quebec
Canada - Saskatchewan
Last updated: 1/99
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