Comments on: Families Pinched By Cost Of Special Needs Care

By: 6trojans

6trojans — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:36:14 +0000

donna28, you need to read the article again, specifically:

“On average, families spent $774 annually, but the cost varied by state of residence ranging from $560 in Massachusetts to $970 in Georgia.”

These were comparative numbers from another article that had nothing to do with income. These numbers are WAY off base.

By: donna28

donna28 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:44:32 +0000

This study looked at the amount of money LOW-INCOME families spend out of pocket. Without having read the study, I would suspect the figures are low because Medicaid or SCHIP picks up a good chunk of the tab and/or these kids aren’t receiving all of the services they need.

In addition, public school districts are also responsible for incurring some of these costs.

By: Kodi Wilson

Kodi Wilson — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:52:04 +0000

I agree about these numbers being cited are WAY too low. We track our cots every year for taxes, and they range from $8,000 – $15,000 OUT OF POCKET every single year. The numbers I see in here are WAY off. If it weren’t for fundraisers we’d have lost our home by now… like many of my special needs friends who are in this same situation in Louisiana. Some HAVE lost their homes due to out of pocket medical expenses.

By: ecurra19

ecurra19 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:01:05 +0000

That should have been a no-brainer that low-income Americans who have a child with a disability spend over 3 percent of their income to meet their child’s health needs. The clear message is that the programs like Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) are not enough. The problem is that the system does not care to investigate. This finding is only for children. What are the findings about adults? The economy is going to affect even deeper with the cuts of funds to many programs as in transportation, education, etc. What the national organizations have to say about that? A situation that the territories of the United States have being facing all the time. “Families that are raising kids with disabilities are probably facing much greater burdens now.”

By: Thur Annfin

Thur Annfin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:04:46 +0000

TherapyMom — My daughter is 19 now, but until she turned 18 I couldn’t get any medical insurance for her because of uninsurability. The state programs here in Ohio designed to help cover special-needs children doesn’t consider Down syndrome a qualifying condition (they used to but budget cuts…) So I know what you’re talking about — rationing care, trying to triage so that the child gets the most important medical care.

What a world of difference now that she has Medicaid!

People who only want health care made possible by the private market should consider the idea that capitalism is at heart a Darwinistic model in which the strong flourish and the weak perish.

If, it has become acceptable for us to see how this kind of predator-economy based health care targets the weak, sick, and helpless for destruction I suppose we should continue with our current dog-eat-dog private insurance system. Otherwise, perhaps we as a democratic bunch of people could come up with a better system.

By: Therapymom

Therapymom — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:26:40 +0000

The prices for my state are not anywhere near what we pay out of pocket for our child’s care. It is easily over 10 times what is listed. I don’t know who they polled or where the numbers were from, but it is not an accurate depiction of my situation or a lot of people that I know. I am not able to work full-time because of my child’s health needs and issues.I am selling belongings, taking extra odd jobs as able and bartering at times in between caring for my child to get what we need. Sometimes appointments get missed, because I have to have cash to take my child places. We have no insurance. We do not qualify for a waiver or any program at this time. We are “uninsurable” and there is no group plan for the hours that I do work. Our friends that do qualify for services and have them in place are not being funded for the services that they were promised nor do they have the frequency, intensity and duration that they need. When we do possibly qualify for a program will it exist or even provide the services that we need or it promises???
Our Christmas will be very basic- no frills and no presents as my hours are cut during the holidays. It’s OK. We have food, electricity and a roof over our heads. Our Faith, inventiveness and sense of humor get us through.I need to make sure my child has seizure meds. I have no reserves at this time if there is a crisis. That is scary. I am going to have to park my car in the driveway and walk because we can’t afford tires or to fill up the tank right now. Hopefully, we will get through everything. I am strong and have sidewalks most of the way where I walk. I have a good friend that will help us with a ride to the doctors. Tough times, tough choices. Trying to stay hopeful, and optimistic. God Bless.

By: dgoneau

dgoneau — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:16:08 +0000

I dont know who wrote this article but the facts are very wrong! Just for my son to have OT once a week its $387.00 .He goes twice a week! Not to mention speach , Neurologists,etc. I live in Virginia. Please check your sources again!

By: JustMe

JustMe — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:12:56 +0000

I agree that the costs cited here are too low. There are many indirect costs, like lost wages for medical appointments, attending IEP meetings, and responding to the crisis-du-jour when the school calls. And then there is the lost income of parents who lose jobs or are forced to quit due to the whiplash effect of their children’s needs: maybe a kid has anxiety issues and refuses to go to school, and the school demands a doctor note for a recurring problem, and pretty soon the truancy cops descend and now there’s a court date and a probation officer. Or maybe the child with bipolar disorder has seasonal sleep issues & can’t make it to school regularly, when expected, with same truancy harassment as a child with anxiety. Kids with disabilities have more disciplinary issues and are sent home and suspended than kids without disabilities, and parents are “suspended” from work along with their kids.

What about the extra costs of tutoring? And transportation to weekly therapies, doctors, counseling? The cost of private evaluations?

Even a kid with “just” ADHD has hidden costs, like replacement of all the lost or damaged items that are related to inattention and impulsivity. Or how do you account for the cost of replacing carpet full of burn marks when a suicidal child tries to set the house on fire to end their misery?

Disability, visible or invisible, has many hidden costs.

By: ceaster

ceaster — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:13:46 +0000

Please find the data that they collected to come up with these costs. I believe that the numbers for out of pocket expenses are way too low. What expenses are they limiting too?

By: dlhicks

dlhicks — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:40:13 +0000

I totally agree with this article but the amounts are misleading, like in my son’s case he has several different issues and we spend over that amount on each separate issue.. We live in NC and have a special needs child who has several issues (many of which little to no coverage by our insurance). Both my husband and I work full-time jobs and my husband had to get a part-time job just to help cover all the meds and co-pays. We even had to cancel much needed therapy and psychologist appts. since we just don’t have the money to pay for them. It is sad that we are trying to do it on our own and can’t get any assistance (and all we asked for is help covering what insurance doesn’t cover). While we see people who get assistance that don’t need it and/or are not trying to do it on their own. Very depressing, and it is making my family suffer. And the sad thing is my son would be doing so much better with just a little assistance. Thanks for letting people know about this issue. This is one area where I think some health care reform is needed. If they would help these kids now they would save money in the long run.