If you’ve made the decision to send your teen to military school, your next big concern may be worrying about how you and your family can afford the costs of the school. It’s understandable to be concerned about the costs of tuition. It’s also understandable to wonder if the programs’ costs dictate the quality of the school your teen is attending.

We’re breaking it down for you so that you can feel confident that this decision is the right one for your teen and for every member of the family.

How Boarding School Costs Relate to Quality   

It’s easy to think that a higher cost means that something is a better option than something that may perhaps be more affordable. This is certainly the case with electronics, cars, jewelry, and so on. When it comes to military school and other similar programs, however, a higher cost does not always point to the program being a better option than others that offer the same programs at a lower rate of tuition.

It’s important to look at other factors about the military school to decide whether it’s the right choice.

• Are the facility and the people you’ve reached to open with communication?
•  Are they willing to share information with you?
• Do you get solid answers to the questions that you ask?
• Proximity to your home. Sometimes a facility that is out of town or out of state can offer more advantages to a teen who is in crisis.
• The size of the military school, the number of students in attendance, and the ratio of teachers and other staff.
• The accepted insurance coverage could help you with the costs of military school.

Evaluate your options and make sure that you feel confident in the military school your teen will attend.

Finding The Right Facility for My Troubled Teen

While it may be tempting to consider an option that is state funded or perhaps offered at a much lower cost than some of the other military schools that you’re considering, this may not be the best choice. As is the case with any type of school, medical, or mental wellness facility, it’s important that they can offer your teen the right type of help to meet his needs.

There is no such thing as a one-size solution when it comes to getting your teen the help and support that he can most benefit from. It’s important that your teen is evaluated by the types of professionals who have experience working with troubled teens so that the right treatment program can be offered. 

Military schools are not the right choice for every teenager. Your teen may be better suited to a facility that focuses on the outdoors or perhaps one that offers a faith-based program more in line with your teen’s set of personal beliefs.

Does Insurance Cover Troubled Teen Schools?

Many private insurance policies will offer some type of coverage for specific facilities that can help troubled teens and teens in crisis. This may include some military schools, as some of the programs offer a component that helps teens with behavioral and other mental wellness concerns.

It’s also important to keep in mind that your private insurance policy may offer great coverage for your teen’s medical care and mental health treatment that he may need.

The best way to determine whether your insurance policy will cover some or all of your teen’s time spent at a military school is to call them directly. HelpYourTeenNow can also help you navigate the often-challenging insurance process to determine the type of coverage that you have to meet your teen’s needs.

Private Pay Matters for Teen Boarding Schools

If your private insurance policy covers most or all of your teen’s tuition for military school, there may be some things for which they will not provide coverage.

• Uniforms
• Books and school supplies
• Sports equipment
• Travel

If you do have coverage through your insurance policy, be sure to get a list of the things they will not cover. This can help you budget the expenses you will be in part or fully responsible for. 

Calling HelpYourTeenNow for support and guidance

Many of the facilities that are within our network may be covered by your insurance policy. When you call and speak to one of our knowledgeable professionals, you’ll need to share some of your personal details so that we can get you the most accurate and detailed information to help you along the way. The more that we understand about your personal situation and your private insurance policy, the better we’ll be able to provide you with a match to a facility that will meet the needs of your teen.

Understandably, you may be concerned about sharing personal details with us. However, all the information you share with us will be kept strictly confidential through every step of this process. This is a time in your life when emotions are running high, and stress is at its peak. We understand this and will do our part to reassure you as you work with us.

Important things to keep in mind

You will need to keep a few things in mind as you navigate this process with your teen. Even if your insurance policy states that it will pay a portion or all of the tuition for your teen, this does not always guarantee that they will pay in a timely manner or pay at all. Parents will be responsible for ensuring that the agreed-upon monthly tuition is covered, no matter what type of reimbursement the insurance company offers. Many insurance companies may offer to reimburse you for the costs of tuition that you pay out of pocket. Be sure that you understand their policies for coverage and reimbursement.

If your insurance coverage is not enough to cover the tuition for your teen’s military school, there may be a few other options to consider, including loans or grants. Call us at HelpYourTeenNow so that we can work together to figure out the best next steps for your teen.