Free interactive tool
Adaptive equipment funding finder
Tell us what your child needs and we will show you the real, honest paths families use to pay for it. No sign-up, no jargon, just where to look and what to ask for first.
Funding finder
Find the money for your child's equipment.
Pick a piece of equipment below. We will lay out the common funding paths for that item, how likely each one is to help, the smartest first move, and where to go next. It takes about a minute.
This tool describes the paths families most commonly use. It is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice, and it cannot promise any specific coverage or amount. Eligibility, covered items, and waitlists differ by insurance plan and by state, so always confirm the specifics with your child's care team, your insurer, your state Medicaid office, and the official resources linked below.
How families actually pay
Five paths, and most families use more than one.
Funding a child's equipment is rarely a single yes. It is usually a stack: a little here, a bridge there, an appeal that finally lands. Here is the honest lay of the land.
Insurance and appeals
Most equipment is billed as durable medical equipment. A prescription and a letter of medical necessity carry the claim, and a denial can be appealed, often successfully.
Medicaid and waivers
Medicaid covers medically necessary equipment for children, and many states run HCBS waivers that reach further, including home and vehicle modifications.
Grants
Disability and diagnosis-specific foundations award grants toward equipment. They are often the piece that closes the gap after insurance pays its part.
Lending closets and reuse
Community programs loan or pass along gently used equipment at little or no cost, a real bridge while funding comes through or while a child grows.
Nonprofits like Teagan's Crown
When the system leaves a gap, nonprofits step in. This is exactly the moment Teagan's Crown was built for.
Questions families ask
Answers, in plain language.
How do I find out whether insurance will cover my child's equipment?
Start with your child's doctor and therapist. Most mobility and positioning equipment is billed as durable medical equipment (DME), which typically needs a prescription and a letter of medical necessity that ties the specific device and its features to your child's needs and goals.
Coverage rules, prior-authorization steps, and how often an item can be replaced vary by plan, so confirm the details with your insurer and your equipment supplier before you order.
What is a Medicaid waiver and can it help pay for equipment?
Medicaid covers medically necessary durable medical equipment for children, and many states also run Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that can help with equipment, home modifications, and related costs, sometimes even for families who would not otherwise qualify by income.
Covered items, rules, and waiting lists differ by state, so check with your state Medicaid office or a local waiver coordinator for what applies where you live.
What should I do if our insurance denies the equipment?
A denial is common and is not the final answer. You have the right to appeal, and a stronger, more specific letter of medical necessity from your therapist frequently changes the outcome.
Keep copies of everything, ask your supplier and therapist to help with the appeal, and pursue other funding sources at the same time so your child is not waiting on a single decision.
Can this tool tell me exactly how much funding we will get?
No. This finder maps the common, real-world paths families use for each type of equipment, but the amounts, eligibility rules, and timelines depend on your specific insurance plan, your state, and your child.
Use the tool to see where to look, then confirm the specifics with your insurer, your state Medicaid office, and the official resources we link on this page.
Does Teagan's Crown pay for equipment directly?
Teagan's Crown is a nonprofit for children with special needs and the families who fight for them, built to help in the moments the system leaves uncovered, such as when insurance says no or a waiver has a long waitlist.
If your family is caught in that gap, tell us what your child needs through our apply page and we will do our best to help.
Go to the source
Official places to confirm the details.
Eligibility, amounts, and waitlists change and vary by state. These are the authoritative places to confirm what applies to your family right now.
Medicaid.gov: Home & Community-Based Services
The federal overview of HCBS waivers, which many states use to help fund equipment, home and vehicle modifications, and services.
Find your state Medicaid office
State-by-state Medicaid contacts, so you can confirm covered equipment, waiver options, and waitlists where you live.
Find your Parent Center
Every state has a federally funded Parent Center offering free guidance on services, equipment, and your child's rights.
State assistive technology programs
Every state has an AT program that often runs device demonstration, reuse, lending, and financing options for families.
Understand durable medical equipment coverage
Background on how durable medical equipment is defined and reviewed, useful when you build a case for medical necessity.
CDC: Disability & Health information
Plain-language, medically reviewed information on disability and children's health from a trusted public source.
Teagan's Crown is not affiliated with the organizations linked above. We point you to official sources so you always work from current, accurate information.
Be that someone
Every child wears a crown.
Teagan's Crown shows up in the gap for children with special needs and the families who fight for them. Your gift helps us keep free tools like this one running and put real help in real hands.
Teagan's Crown is a nonprofit for children with special needs and their families. 501(c)(3) status in progress.