The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
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To examine health care spending patterns for U.S. adolescents aged 10 to 18 years using nationally representative household survey data. ⋯ On the basis of our findings that health care expenditures for adolescents are low and that insurance coverage provides critically needed financial protection, we conclude that further expansions of public and private health insurance coverage for this population would provide significant benefits at modest additional cost. Additional efforts to improve coverage of services that are not now well-covered, such as dental care, would also be valuable.