Access to Adequate Insurance

 

Research indicates that children with a stable and continuous source of health care are most likely to receive appropriate preventative services, less likely to be hospitalized and more likely to be diagnosed for disabling conditions. Approximately 9.3 percent of children with special health care needs were uninsured for all or part of the year when surveyed and parents reported approximately one-third of insured children with special health care needs had inadequate insurance coverage (2009-2010 National CSHCN Survey).

Data:

The National CSHCN Survey provides state-level data on the percent of parents of children with special health care needs reporting private or public health insurance coverage, no gaps in coverage, coverage that meets their child’s needs, reasonable out-of-pocket costs, access to needed providers, and lack of unmet needs due to health plan coverage.

Resources:

Bridge to Benefits is a multi-state project sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund- Midwest Region focused on improving the well-being of families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits.

The Catalyst Center is a national center dedicated to improving health care coverage and financing for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN).

A Health Benefits Counseling Training Module was developed by the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State University to be used by providers of coordinated medical care services for children and youth with developmental disabilities and special health care needs. 

For a list of North Dakota coverage options, view the Health-Care Coverage Options Brochure.

For questions or concerns regarding an insurance policy, visit the North Dakota Insurance Department, a state agency devoted to insurance regulation. 

The North Dakota Department of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant Program has placed priority on promoting access to available, appropriate and quality health care and evidence-based home visiting programs for the MCH population. For more information on Title V efforts, visit their state performance measure fact sheet.