Montana’s rural communities are enormous contributors to our state economy. They are home to our farms and ranches, our thriving Tribal communities, and much of what makes Montana so attractive to tourists – mountains, rivers, lakes, open prairies, and abundant wildlife. Montana’s beauty and its space are in large part what led to the pandemic population boom. Our rural areas deserve access to the services and programs that our more urban areas enjoy — especially quality, affordable health care.
Across the country, people are clamoring for something to be done about rising out-of-pocket costs and the resulting impact of expensive medical bills. Nowhere in the country is this truer than in Montana. Montanans living in the most rural parts of the state, who already face fewer options for medical care, are also less likely to have insurance coverage through an employer. Rural Montanans are also more apt to have chronic medical conditions and lower incomes, putting specialized treatments financially out-of-reach.