How to Pay for Therapeutic Boarding School

Does your child need to be placed in a Therapeutic Boarding School but you have no idea how you are going to pay for it? We understand how frustrating this can be as a parent of an at-risk child, and we are here to help as you make this challenging decision. Below are some options available to you to help pay for boarding school.

Are you looking for a boarding school placement for your child or teen? For a complete listing of Therapeutic Boarding Schools by state click here.

Are there any free boarding schools? Yes. While there are only a few in the United States, here is a list of free boarding schools for at-risk youth.

As you consider a therapy boarding school for your child, know that you are not alone. Click here to read parent Robin’s experience in paying for Therapeutic Boarding School for her son at YOVA (Youth With a Vision) for Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD).

How Much Does Therapeutic Boarding School Cost?

By the time your child completes therapeutic boarding school, it can run from $25,000-$150,000. To most of us, this is a huge amount of money and may seem impossible. While it will take some sacrifice, remember that this is an investment into our children’s well-being and may be what’s necessary to maintain your family…and your sanity.

Whatever options you choose, start your search as soon as possible so that you can get your child on their path to healing.

Factors that influence treatment costs:

• The recommended length of stay
• Your child’s clinical diagnosis
• Whether the situation requires specialized services
• Your youth’s mental health insurance coverage

10 Ways To Pay for Therapeutic Boarding School

When making decisions about whether your child will enter treatment, consider that you will be making a lifetime investment in his or her future wellness. Untreated mental health issues do not go away by themselves. Your commitment to your child’s recovery will be invaluable and the results will ultimately be life-changing for them and for you.

1. Insurance May Cover Some of the Costs

Does insurance cover the costs of Therapeutic Boarding School?

Depending on the school, insurance often covers some of the costs for behavioral and mental treatments. Some insurance companies may pay 100% of the treatment costs; however, you may be asked to pay the total cost up front and seek reimbursement, which can put a strain on families.

Most often, insurance will not pay for the full cost of tuition, fees, school supplies, travel, and many other costs involved.

If your insurance currently covers licensed mental and behavioral health therapy, as well as medication, they may continue to be covered by insurance when your child is in residential treatment.

Some Therapeutic Boarding Schools do not accept insurance, in which case everything may be out-of-pocket. The other thing to consider is that some may be in-network, and some may be out-of-network. In-network schools may not be the right fit for your child. In many cases parents may need to use out-of-network services in order to get the appropriate care.

2. Ask the School About a Payment Plan

Even after insurance pays for some of the treatment costs, the other expenses that come with boarding school can be overwhelming to most families. Some schools offer payment plans which is a good option if you are unable to pay the costs up-front.

Additional expenses for boarding school can include travel fees, uniforms, sports and recreation fees, textbooks, or technology fees.

Payment Plans allow the cost to be paid over several months which can take the burden off of having to coming up with a large sum of money all at once. Talk to the school’s Admissions or Financial Aid Department to see what payment plan options are available.

3. Apply for Loans

Personal Loans to Pay for Medical and Education Expenses

Can I apply for a loan under my student? The answer is no, parents have to apply for a loan under their own name.

Companies such as Lending Tree can make it a little easier for you to find options for personal medical loans or personal loans to pay for educational expenses for Therapeutic Boarding School. Checking with your bank is also always a good option.

Loans with low interest rates are available, but the actual rate you receive depends on your credit score and what’s available through your preferred lender. Well-qualified borrowers may be able to find rates significantly lower than the average.

Lightstream is a lending company that provides medical financing at low interest rates for folks with high credit scores.

Financial Aid Loans

Check with the schools to see if they offer any kind of financial aid. Some schools do offer some aid, but it is limited. However, when trying to get your child the help they need, no stone can be left unturned.

4. Use a College 529 Plan

If you have set up a College 529 plan to pay for your child’s college education, consider using it to pay for Therapeutic Boarding School. This is a way to help get your child back on track with their education so that they may be able to go to college someday. It may be well worth while to use that money now.

5. Apply for a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

Another alternative to financing a TBS is a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). HELOCs are secured lines of credit, using your home equity (your house) as collateral. This can be a beneficial and convenient way to access money that is needed and can also be a tax deduction.

6. Use Credit Cards

Although credit cards have high interest rates, using them to pay the up-front cost of a therapeutic school may be a good option until you are able to obtain the money you need. HELOCs generally have much lower interest rates and so should be considered first. Only use a credit card as very last resort.

7. Use Adoption Resources

Was your child adopted? If your child was adopted, you may be able to get some financial assistance through the Adoptive Families Coalition.

The Adoptive Families Coalition helps families with post-adoption challenges. They offer a plan to help and assist in paying for the high cost of boarding schools and residential treatment centers (RTC and RTF). You can find the sponsorship application on their website or call (602)-740-7149 or (602)-390-0220.

There also may be financial resources available to you if you adopted your child through foster care. If you receive an adoption subsidy, it can be adjusted to cover these additional costs due to your child’s disability, mental health issues, or early trauma. Check with your social worker or the state in which you adopted for more information.

8. Include Treatment in Individualized Education Program (IEP)

If your Child has an IEP and the case can be made that the school setting is insufficient to meet your child’s needs, states are required by law to provide funding. Check out Wrightlaw.com for more information about IEP’s.

While it is somewhat rare for a school district to cover the cost of boading school, it has happened. The school district might pay for the educational portion of the costs, if not the full amount.

Ask the school you are interested in if they work with IEP’s and about their reimbursement policy.

9. More Creative Ways to Pay for Therapeutic Boarding School

Here are a few other create methods parents have used to fund boarding school.

• Create a Go-Fund-Me Page. Friends, families, and community members may be willing to contribute.
• Ask friends and family members. Are there grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other family members who would be willing to offer assistance?
• Request funds from your church or place of worship. Some churches offer grants, scholarships, and financial help to members.
• Ask your employer for a donation or a loan. Some employers are willing to help. It is good for business and they can use it as a tax write-off.

10. Consider hiring a educational advocate to guide you through the process.

Hiring an attorney, educational consultant, or case manager is a helpful option for some families. Click here for more details on hiring an educational advocate or consultant to get your child into boarding school or residential treatment.

While hiring an expert is an additional expense, it may save money in the long run if the consultant is able to help you find the school that is the right fit for your child, plus provide financial resource information.

An advocate will walk you through the whole process, including helping to create a treatment plan, helping to secure reimbursement from your insurance company, aiding in the intake process, helping you to get a comprehensive psychological evaluation, and coordinating travel.

Consultants can be expensive and charge anywhere from $100-$350 an hour, but a good case manager’s expertise will end up paying for itself when you consider all the time, headache, and money they may be able to save you.

We understand the stress, heartache, and desperation you feel trying to get appropriate help for your child and to give them the best chance for a fulfilling, successful future. The road can feel lonely, but remember that you aren’t alone.

Have you already been trying to get your child into a therapeutic boarding school? Have you been able to get financial help? Please comment below. We would love to hear your experience and it will be helpful to other parents, too.

If you have exhausted all options and realize that therapeutic boarding school is not feasible for your child, read about other residential treatment options. Read about how to fund these other residential treatment options here.

Click here for a free PDF printable checklist of the 7 steps to take when your child needs residential treatment.

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