Health care spending higher for boys than girls; rise in teen use of prescriptions and mental health services; spending on babies highest of any children's age group
Spending on health care for children covered by employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) increased between 2009 and 2012, rising an average 5.5 percent a year, with more dollars spent on boys than girls, and higher spending on infants and toddlers (ages 0-3) than any other children's age group, finds a new report released today by the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI). Per capita spending on children reached $2,437 in 2012, a $363 increase from 2009. The study shows a growth in prescription use by children through age 18, as well as a rise in the number of teens being admitted for mental health and substance use (MHSU) treatment.
The report, Children's Health Spending: 2009-2012, presents the most up-to-date data on health care spending trends for privately insured children under age 19. It is based on fee-for-service claims for 10.5 million children per year who were covered by employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI). For all years studied, HCCI found rising prices contributed more to spending growth than did utilization of services. However, increased prescription use contributed to rising spending for children over the age of 3.
Big Gender Gap in Spending
Until age 14, boys had higher health care spending than girls, and boys of all ages had a higher share of spending on brand prescriptions. In 2012, spending for boys reached $2,572, while spending on girls was $2,296 - a $276 gender difference. Out-of-pocket spending also was higher for boys than for girls, $440 per boy and $414 per girl. When children reached their teens, spending on health care for girls was higher than boys, a trend that continues throughout adulthood until about age 60.
Rise in Prescription Use and Teen Mental Health Admissions
All age groups saw increased overall prescription spending in 2011 and 2012, according to the report. The most common prescription drug class was central nervous system (CNS) agents (commonly associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and depression). Use of CNS drugs by younger children (ages 4-8), pre-teens (ages 9-13), and teens (ages 14-18) rose over time, and in each age group boys had higher use of CNS drugs than girls. Between 2011 and 2012, younger children, pre-teens, and teenagers saw double-digit growth in generic CNS use.
Teen girls had higher levels of overall prescription use than teen boys. In 2012, teen boys used an average 89 filled days of brand and generic prescriptions; in contrast, teen girls averaged 128 filled days. The difference in prescription usage between boys and girls was largely a result of teen girls' use of synthetic hormones (typically associated with birth control pills).
"The trend of rising use of prescriptions among children is particularly notable," says HCCI Executive Director David Newman. "We, and others, need to focus on the mental health needs of our children."
