title: Autism and families' financial burden: the association with health insurance coverage.
abstract: We examined the relationship between family financial burden and children's health insurance coverage in families (n  =  316) raising children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), using pooled 2000-2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Measures of family financial burden included any out-of-pocket spending in the previous year, and spending as a percentage of families' income. Families spent an average of $9.70 per $1,000 of income on their child's health care costs. Families raising children with private insurance were more than 5 times as likely to have any out-of-pocket spending compared to publicly insured children. The most common out-of-pocket expenditure types were medications, outpatient services, and dental care. This study provides evidence of the relative inadequacy of private insurance in meeting the needs of children with ASD.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Parish
authors.forename: Kathleen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Christianna S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Morgan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Crossman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000191:economics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male
keywords: Medicaid; autism; health care costs; out-of-pocket spending; private insurance