A study published today in the American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A finds that out-of-pocket medical costs of having a child with Down syndrome average less than $100 a month over the first 18 years of life. The study compared both out-of-pocket and insurance-covered costs for children with Down syndrome and matched peers without Down syndrome and found that, over the first 18 years, the additional medical costs of having a child with Down syndrome averaged $18,248 for families and $230,043 for insurers.
The authors found that medical expenses were highest in the first year of life, when children with Down syndrome are most likely to need surgeries that require a hospital stay. However, the average additional cost to families is perhaps surprisingly low, given the perception that children with Down syndrome incur burdensome medical costs. “I think many people will be surprised to learn that parents have few extra medical expenses when raising a child or adolescent with Down syndrome, since health insurance covers most of the costs,” said Dr. Brian Skotko, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Down Syndrome Program and a co-author of the study, in a MGH press release. “I hope our findings can help families better prepare for their own financial futures.”
For more information about life with Down syndrome, see the MGH Down Syndrome Program website, or download free materials at lettercase.org.
Prenatal Information Research Consortium 