title: Family healthcare expenditure on children affiliated to the Medical Insurance for a New Generation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze household health expenditures on children who are beneficiaries of the Medical Insurance for a New Generation (SMNG), program created in 2007 to cover healthcare costs of children without social security born after December 1st, 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the SMNG National Survey, out-the-pocket and catastrophic spending on child health were calculated using several definitions. Results are presented by socioeconomic level, rural and urban areas and for Oportunidades beneficiaries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 63.3% of households spent an average annual amount of 3320 Mexican pesos (MEX$) on healthcare for beneficiary children. Between 4.3 and 11.6% of households experienced catastrophic spending, depending on the definition adopted. Due to economic trouble, 15.5% of households postponed and 10.0% cancelled medical care for their child.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even though children are affiliated to the SMNG, the economic burden associated with attending their health is still an issue for families.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Económicos y Sociales en Salud, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, México. evelyne_rodriguez@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Evelyne Eugenia
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Ortega
authors.forename: Elvira Mireya
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pasillas-Torres
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health / Q000191:economics*; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D008800:Mexico; D019472:Universal Health Insurance