The cost of caring: Medical debt places heavy burden on Kootenai families
When
"I feel like I've put a mountain of debt onto my family," Morgan said. "It's like scooping water out of a never-ending well."
Even now, with insurance covering 80% of her medical costs, her family struggles with about
"I wouldn't be so stressed if I wasn't drowning in medical debt," she said.
Morgan's struggle is far from unique in the Gem State. According to
"Her insurance literally pays none of it," Paul said.
Together, the family must come up with about
"I have to do pet sitting outside my normal job to earn for all her supplies," Paul said.
The cost of medical care is also keeping
"If we do, I lose my health coverage, and us paying out of pocket for some of my medication I have to take would make us bankrupt in six months or less," Corbett said.
Sometimes the costs can become extreme.
At age 31,
Filing for assistance and fighting with collection agencies adds stress to her recovery from a health crisis, and she believes the cost of her care doesn't make any sense.
For 15 minutes of time spent with a medical professional, she is frequently billed
"The only reason I'm even able to have my surgeries is because I've already met my out-of-pocket deductible," she said. "A couple of years ago, it built up over
Kim Avenger went in for a routine pregnancy scan last summer, and a doctor told her there was something wrong with her daughter's brain.
"The dozens and dozens of medical tests prior to her birth were big tests, all many thousands of dollars," Avenger said. "Before she was even born, we owed much more than we made in a month."
After she was born, Rosalie was hospitalized four times in her first two months of life. She passed away a little while after turning 6 months old.
Throughout her short life, her family battled constantly for her care. When Rosalie needed an emergency brain shunt, for instance, the insurance company wouldn't pay.
"Without it, she would've died at f5 weeks old. The insurance company determined it was not a necessary surgery," Avenger said.
The family now uses the food pantry in
"We do not want to ask for more money from those who have loved and given us so much of themselves already," Avenger said.
Part of the problem is the skyrocketing cost of health care. The cost of medical care typically outpaces inflation, and it's on pace to do so again in 2024, according to Peterson-KFF, a group that tracks the health care system.
"Our expenses are radically more expensive, but insurance hasn't adjusted reimbursement," Fletcher said, pointing to a growing disconnect between the cost of providing care and the reimbursement rates from insurance companies.
Her concerns were echoed by
"It's a difficult challenge at times," Smith said of insurance companies. "Our interests are not quite aligned, are they? They want to pay us as little as they can, and we want to get the most we can."
He also pointed to government policy changes — both from
Although 98% of seniors in
"We are seeing a trend by many insurance carriers to exit all rural
For now, there doesn't seem to be much of a solution, but there are a few resources.
The DOI also investigates insurance fraud and the inappropriate denial of claims.
Consumers can contact the DOI at 208-334-4319 or [email protected].
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