Helping North Dakota Families Manage Medical Expenses When They Pile Up

(Adobe Stock via Prairie News Service)

(By Mike Moen. Prairie News Service) – Many North Dakota households feel strained by medical debt, including parents of children with disabilities or other complex medical needs. Support organizations hope these families make use of the resources available.

An estimated 21% of North Dakota children have a special health care need. For care costs, government coverage programs can bring relief to these households, but analysts say medical expenses can quickly mount, even when the family has commercial insurance.

Laurel Pickering is the president and CEO of the Midwest Health Initiative, which pushes the industry to improve the quality and affordability of health care. She said deductibles in these situations can be problematic.

“You know, most employers have high-deductible health plans,” said Pickering. “Deductibles range from $1,000 or $2,000 to $5,000, and sometimes even more if you’re talking about a smaller business or smaller company.”