Oregon Families Need More Support for Disability Costs

More than one in four of US children have special health care needs, and their families, including many in Oregon, may face financial strain from high medical costs.

Marianne Martinez of Salem is the mother of Alexander, a 14-year-old with autism. She said he needs many therapies, like support with walking, that are not covered by insurance.

She said the costs of the shoes he needs, plus travel to and from his appointments – let alone the appointments themselves – really add up.

“Medical expenses can encompass more things than just going to the doctors,” said Martinez. “Also for autism specifically, there’s only one therapy that is really covered. If that modality does not work for your family, then you are kind of out of luck.”

Martinez said many families like hers struggle with employment, because their children often have appointments that conflict with work schedules, or they need to be picked up from school early.

Research shows families of children with disabilities are almost twice as likely to experience financial hardship than those without.

UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is one source that offers grants to pay for children’s medical expenses not covered, or not fully covered, by a commercial health insurance plan.

Scott Otto, the foundation’s assistant executive director said the grants are available to anyone, not just UnitedHealthcare policyholders. He said they can help cover large expenses like ER visits or surgeries, as well as smaller things.

“We’re also able to underwrite even just some of the little more day-to-day kind of costs,” said Otto, “the $20 co-pay every time you go to the pharmacy, or every time you go to a physical therapy.”

UnitedHealth Group’s gross profit last year topped $88 billion, according to the website Macrotrends, and the company has come under public scrutiny for its billing practices.

Officials with the UHC Foundation note the charitable arm that makes these grants is a separate entity.