Out-Of-Pocket Spending Per Child Hospitalization Averaged $1,313 From 2017 Through 2019 For Privately Insured Children

The out-of-pocket costs for a privately insured child’s hospitalization (other than for birth) averaged $1,313 during 2017, 2018, and 2019. For 14% of child hospitalizations during the three-year period, the out-of-pocket costs exceeded $3,000.

During the course of a year, out-of-pocket costs were highest when the hospitalizations happened during the first quarter of the year when most people did not have any other expenses to count toward a deductible, compared to the fourth quarter. Out-of-pocket costs were $732 higher for children without complex chronic health conditions, compared to . . .