Understanding the financial burden for pediatric bipolar disorder treatment is important as previous studies found that, even among families with private insurance coverage, those with special health care needs (including mental health) have significantly greater financial barriers than families of children without these conditions.(34, 35) Research suggests that as many as 25% of continuously insured families with private health insurance, are underinsured, as defined by the family’s perspective on the reasonableness of out-of-pocket expenses.(26) In the study sample, families paid $1,429 out of pocket per child on average during one year with bipolar disorder. These payments represent the reported patient out-of-pocket expenses (copayments, co-insurance, and deductibles) but do not include information on premiums paid by the patient. Additionally, these estimates do not consider indirect costs, such as lost productivity/absenteeism at work or school, (for family members or the patient), childcare, or other time and services for managing the child’s bipolar disorder. Given the chronic, recurrent nature of bipolar disorder, these costs may be substantial.
