More than 14 million U.S. children (22.7%) were underinsured in 2007, according to a survey of parents by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. The 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health asked parents whether their child’s health insurance covered needed services and providers, and whether the out-of-pocket costs (excluding premiums) were reasonable; the child was considered underinsured if the parent did not answer “usually” or “always.”
Older children, children in fair or poor health, and those with special health care needs were more likely to be underinsured. The most common reason cited for underinsurance was unreasonable costs.
The study appears in the Aug. 25 New England Journal of Medicine.
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