How do I pay for feeding therapy?

Private insurance is usually the first funding option to explore for feeding therapy since public agencies generally require families to exhaust private insurance resources before they will step in.

Feeding therapy might be covered under occupational therapy, speech therapy, or both, depending on your child’s needs. Your pediatrician can assist with referrals and documentation, which are often required for insurance approval.

If your child has state Medicaid, it can help cover feeding therapy that private insurance doesn’t fully cover. State disability programs, such as California Children’s Services (CCS) and Regional Centers in California, might also support feeding needs for children who qualify.

In some states, early intervention services provide feeding therapy at no cost for eligible children. Early intervention services may include assessments and specialized therapy to children with identified swallowing or chewing difficulties.

For more information, see Feeding Therapy 101.