So, I was trying to find some relatively inexpensive activities (like classes or camp) for special needs kids Wyatt's age for the summer. It's not that easy because he's only 4 and a half and not potty trained. At one of the local OT offices I saw a notice for a $25 Sensory Motor group session, no age restrictions, everyone welcome, etc. Of course, I signed up right away and it was a bonus that there were no other kids signed up yet because it was like a $95 type private session.

After the session the young OT comes out of the room totally exhausted and she says my son is NOT ready for a group session. She says he doesn't know the routines. What is this, tap or ballet? Of course he doesn't know any freaking routines!! Then the OT supervisor came out of her office and said I would be welcome to pay $95 for private lessons. I felt like I'd been bait & switched. She said I could pay the $95 and sit in on the sessions and learn the routines and practice them with Wyatt until he's ready for the group class. I said, well, my insurance hasn't been paying up lately so I didn't want to add anything expensive to my schedule. I said that I already have an OT that I liked, I was just interested in the $25 group class.

And then she puts one hand on her hip and demands, "Is this a money issue?!" I was like, "Well, yeah it's a money issue." And she said I needed to bill everything to my mental health insurance rather than my medical insurance. Don't you love that she just assumed I had big time mental health insurance? Not everyone does, and it isn't like I live in freakin' Beverly Hills or Malibu. Anyway, she went on about how mental health insurance HAS TO PAY in our state and that the therapists can ask for whatever they like and NONE OF THE OTHER PARENTS THAT COME TO HER OFFICE HAVE ANY PROBLEMS GETTING THEIR INSURANCE TO PAY FOR WHATEVER THEY WANT.

So, I was completely ticked and annoyed. But then I felt really incredibly stupid that maybe I've been going about my health insurance all wrong. I hate that I'm expected to be a doctor, teacher, lawyer, advocate, researcher, therapist, cook, maid, chauffeur, AND now an insurance expert it seems.

You know, we already feel sad that our kids are excluded from things, but to have these OT's really rub it in that my son doesn't know some stupid routines...why didn't they mention that before I wasted my time coming to their office?  And then trying to BROWBEAT and HUMILIATE me into signing up with them...that just steams me.