Duration in and pattern of utilization under children's health insurance programs.

This article provides information on duration of enrollment and utilization under children's health insurance programs for States planning to expand such programs in response to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Using data from children's health insurance programs in Pennsylvania, we find that there is a significant turnover among enrollees and the pattern of use following enrollment suggests considerable pent-up demand for medical services. The annual payment per child for services with a comprehensive benefit package in 1994-95 was estimated to range from $500 to $600 depending on turnover, which is a slight underestimation because some hospitalized children were shifted to Medicaid.