AHRQ Stats: Children's Health Care Expenses

The highest total health care expense in 2012 for children age 17 and under was for mental health, with $13.9 billion spent on treatment of mental disorders. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #472: Top Five Most Costly Conditions among Children, Ages 0-17, 2012 Estimates for the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population).

STATISTICAL BRIEF #472:
Top Five Most Costly Conditions among Children, Ages 0-17, 2012:

Estimates for the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population

April 2015

Anita Soni, PhD, MBA

Highlights

For children under 18 years of age, mental disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, trauma-related disorders, acute bronchitis and upper respiratory infections; and infectious diseases ranked highest in terms of direct medical spending in 2012.
The highest total expense ($13.9 billion) was for the treatment of mental disorders.
Among the top five most expensive conditions, 12.1 million children received care and treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
The highest average per child expense was for the treatment of mental disorders ($2,195).
Two-thirds (64.3 percent) of expenditures for trauma-related disorders were paid by private insurance.
Three-fourths (73.0 percent) of expenditures for acute bronchitis and upper respiratory infections were in the form of outpatient and office-based visits.