Healthcare Choices for Families Facing Profound Autism with benefitbay®’s Brandy Burch Thompson

Families raising children with profound autism often face overwhelming challenges in navigating healthcare, education, and daily life. On the Inchstones podcast, Sarah Kernion and Brandy Burch Thompson, CEO & Founder of benefitbay® unpack these realities with honesty and clarity, highlighting why individualized care plans matter and how employers can better support neurodiverse families. Their conversation underscores the power of advocacy, the necessity of informed choice in healthcare, and the resilience it takes for parents of autistic children to be heard. This dialogue shines a light on both the systemic barriers and the inchstones of progress that define the autism journey, offering guidance and hope to families walking a similar path. In exploring the importance of individualized care plans, the role of employers in providing healthcare options, and the need for families to advocate for their specific needs, Brandy helps Sarah and other parents in similar situation understand the terrain of the healthcare system. The conversation emphasizes the significance of choice in healthcare and the empowerment of families to make informed decisions about their care.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - What Real Support Looks Like For Parents of Autistic Children
• (00:01:01) - Special Needs Healthcare Coverage and Access
• (00:10:58) - On Autism and Special Needs Coverage
• (00:15:44) - Choosing the right healthcare plan for your family
• (00:20:58) - Employers: Taking the Employer Out of Healthcare
• (00:23:27) - Choosing a healthcare plan for a medically complex family