Out-of-Pocket Spending for Non-Birth-Related Hospitalizations of Privately Insured US Children, 2017 to 2019
April 14, 2023
Even with private insurance, families can face significant costs due to their child’s hospitalization. A recent study, led by CHEAR faculty Erin Carlton, MD, MSc, and Kao-Ping Chua MD, PhD, showed that the average out-of-pocket spending related to pediatrics hospitalization was $1300, with 1 in 7 hospitalizations exceeding $3000. This study highlights the need for future research to understand if hospitalizations lead to worsened financial health, such as increased debt, as well as the implication for insurance companies and policymakers to consider the structure of health insurance.
Collaborators: Becker NV, Moniz MH, Scott JW, Prescott HC, Chua KP