Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was launched in 2013 to set up an institution that can provide a sustainable programme for individuals with disabilities. The NDIS is a change from the old programme because it adopted the insurance approach in state funding for people with disabilities (PWD).
The NDIS also introduced features that give PWDs greater freedom on how to manage the funds for their care plans. NDIS recipients/beneficiaries may now opt to have their care plans handled through plan management. This can be done by third-party and private handlers such as the Victorian NDIS plan manager and other plan management service providers.
To help you mak.e the most of these funds, here are numerous ways to maximize your NDIS plan through plan management:
1. Get value for Your Dollar
You can make the most of your NDIS by making sure that you get true value for your NDIS dollars. By asking several plan management service providers for their proposals, you’ll be able to compare the various rates, fees, and charges quoted by different plan managers. A growing number of beneficiaries are already taking this option, especially those who acquired disabilities from personal injury. Many of them have experienced dealing with lawsuits, so they know how tedious documentation can be.
The advantage of getting a third-party plan management service provider to handle your NDIS plan is that it takes off the burden of having to personally manage your NDIS funds. It might sound like a simple task but personally managing your NDIS funds involves a lot of paperwork. Specifically, you’ll be the one to look for firms and outfits that would provide the things you need for your care plan. Moreover, you have to make sure that these service providers should are accredited by the NDIS. You’ll also have to keep track of all the expenses and then submit invoices.
With a plan manager, you can make sure that you’re getting the best service and therapies within the ‘reasonable and necessary expenses’ permitted under your care plan. By requiring third-party plan managers to give their best proposals, you can get value for the dollar you receive from the NDIS plan. And with your plan manager handling your procurement, payments, and paperwork, you’ll have more time on your hands to do the things you’ve always wanted to do.
2. Choose The Combination Plan
Under the NDIS programme, you have three basic options on how your NDIS funds will be handled and managed. The first option is going for the total self-managed plan. If you opt for this, your funds will be sent straight to the designated bank account that you enrolled in the NDIS programme. This means you’ll have to look for everything you need yourself and pay for them with the money you receive. Under this plan, you’ll also have to make sure all invoices are sent to the NDIS.
The second option is to authorize the NDIA to act as your agency and plan manager. With this option, the NDIA would play the role of getting your support providers and paying for them with your NDIS funds. In addition to the first two plans, another option you may consider is to get a third-party plan manager.
There is a fourth option that will help you make the most of your NDIS plan—and that’s by combining features of the other alternatives. For instance, you can assign your plan manager to take care of the things that fall within their expertise and core competence. You can then choose to self-manage frequent and daily expenses such as transportation costs.
With this combination approach, you can limit the role of your third-party plan manager to handling the procurement of large purchases and specialized services. This way, you can make the most of your plan manager’s network of service providers to get the best offers at the most affordable and reasonable prices. At the same time, you’ll retain control over your daily expenses such as transportation to and from work or healthcare facilities.
3. Get Value-added Referrals And Promos
Another way you can make the most of your third-party plan manager is by instructing them to require service providers to submit their best quotes with value-added inclusions, promos, freebies, and add-ons. Your plan manager can get the best proposals for equipment, therapy packages, and training sessions. They can also hint to suppliers and service providers that several other providers are offering discounts, rebates, and extras.
With your third-party plan manager’s existing network of suppliers and service providers, you can even ask them to help you out with some of your activities and transactions that aren’t part of their plan management but are still part of your care plan. For instance, if you’re planning to go on a Short-Term Accommodation (STA) as part of your care plan, you can ask them for referrals or recommendations even though you didn’t include STA under the scope of services of their plan management service agreement with you.
Maximize Your Care Plan
The financial assistance provided by the NDIS programme has successfully helped a lot of Australians with disabilities. They’ve been able to avail themselves of professional services from occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, and caregivers to help them go about their daily tasks and do the other things they want to pursue in their lives. More importantly, the programme has empowered people with disabilities to tap into their talents and continue to be positively contributing and flourishing members of society.
If you’re looking to maximize your NDIS plan, consider having your plan handled through NDIS plan management. The tips discussed above will help you decide on the necessary details involved in this approach.
