STATISTICAL BRIEF #428: Trends in Health Care Expenditures for Children under Age 18: 2001, 2006, and 2011



The proportion of children with prescription drug costs was lower in 2011 than in 2001. In addition, the proportion of expenses for office-based medical care and dental visits for children was slightly higher in 2011 than in 2001. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #428: Trends in Health Care Expenditures for Children under Age 18: 2001, 2006, and 2011.)

STATISTICAL BRIEF #428:
Trends in Health Care Expenditures for Children under Age 18: 2001, 2006, and 2011

January 2014

Lisa B. Mirel, MS and Kelly Carper, MEd

Highlights

• A similar proportion (about 85 percent) of children had some expenses for health care in 2001, 2006, and 2011.
• In 2011 the average total annual expense per child with expenses was higher than 2001.
• The proportion of children with expenses for prescribed medicines in 2011 was lower than 2001. Conversely, the proportion with expenses for office-based care and for dental visits was slightly higher in 2011 than 2001.
• The average expense per physician office visit for children was higher in 2011 than in 2006 or 2001.
• A notably higher proportion of children's medical expenses was paid by Medicaid/SCHIP in 2011 than in 2001 and the proportion paid out of pocket was significantly lower in 2011 (15.4 percent) than in 2006 or 2001.