Employer-Sponsored Insurance Expenditures Per Child With Autism Increased To $19,955 In 2017

Employer-sponsored insurance expenditures for total inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy expenses for children with a current-year diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder increased by 51% between 2011 and 2017. In 2011, average annual expenditures for a covered child with autism were $13,198. The average annual expenditure rose to $19,955 per child in 2017. Among children who did not meet the current-year ASD case definition, per-child spending increased by 8%, from $2,023 in 2011 to $2,186 in 2017. This compares to mean spending for all children, which increased by 14%, from $2,086 in 2011 . . .