Congenital heart defects are among the most common birth defects, affecting approximately 1 in every 100 newborns worldwide. With improvements in science most of these defects can be treated and the children can live up to near normal lives. However, a timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are key.
The diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects is usually expensive as it requires sophisticated equipment and infrastructure. For many parents whose children are born with a heart defect, this treatment maybe too expensive to bear and they may need financial help.
Some of the parents rely on donation for heart surgery which they raise through crowdfunding platforms or from organisations that provide support in this area. In some countries, health insurance may also provide a cover but that is limited.
Looking after and treating a child with a heart defect is both a financially and emotionally draining experience. We enlist below a few options through which one can raise financial support to treat their child’s congenital heart defect:
Insurance Schemes
The first step for most parents is to check if their existing insurance schemes cover the treatment for congenital heart defects. Not all health insurance policies cover birth defects and hence one needs to check for a cover and if it is there then the areas that the scheme supports- hospital stays, medical consultations, surgeries, medication etc.
In many countries however health insurance may not be the best source to get financial support as in any places they still do not cover congenial heart defects.
Government Schemes
It is also good to check which government schemes support children with a congenital heart defect. In many countries like India for example, state empanelled hospitals in some states treat children suffering from a congenital heart defect free of cost. In addition, state health insurance schemes are also being rolled out that provide financial assistance to families seeking care for congenital heart defects.
Some states support the treatment of CHD free of cost. In Assam, for example, the state government supports all children in the age group of 0-18 years to get free treatment for their heart defects. The scheme is applicable to children who are permanent residents of Assam and whose annual income is Rs 6 Lakhs or less. The Government bears the cost of screening, investigation and treatment.
Non-Governmental Organisations
Many non-governmental organisations also provide financial assistance of families in need of a treatment for congenita heart defects. These NGOs usually service lesser privileged families which have comparatively lower incomes. The NGOs in turn source their funds from corporate donations to nonprofits and donation for heart surgery given by individuals.
Genesis Foundation is one such NGO which has been supporting children born with a congenital heart defect. It supports children who come from families with a monthly income of Rs 20,000 or lesser and whose parents cannot afford the treatment. To find out more about their work visit www.genesis-fondation.net.
Crowdfunding
In today’s digital age, crowdfunding has made it extremely easy for many families to raise donation for heart surgery online. Crowdfunding enables people to use donation platforms/websites to raise money from donors to pay for medical expenses.
Platforms like Ketto, Give, Milap allow families to create fundraisers to seek financial support from friends, family and the online community. Crowd funding enables one to raise small donations from a large pool of people to meet one’s requirements for treatment. While these platforms are great for raising funds, they require promotion and effort.
Trusts and Charitable Hospitals
Many Trusts and charitable hospitals also provide waivers on the interventions of congenital heart defect treatment, especially in cases where the families are unable to pay for the treatment. They also play a significant role in connecting families with others who may have a similar challenge. These trusts also rely on corporate donations to charity to support children in need of treatment.
Conclusion
Treating a congenital heart defect is not only financially but also emotionally challenging for many families. in todays’ ties the good news is that CHD is treatable and there are many ways in which one can organise financial support for treating their child’s heat defect. it is critical for every family to explore each of the options available and seek their support in treating their child – no child should be denied of access to a lifesaving treatment only due to a shortage of funds.
