Getting Health Care

50% of parents say that word of mouth is very important when selecting a doctor for their children, compared with 25% of parents who say that doctor rating websites are very important. Mothers are more likely than fathers, and parents under 30 more likely than parents 30 and over, to say that online doctor ratings are very important.

Nearly two-thirds of parents of young children in child care say their children could not attend because of illness in the past year. One-third of parents of young kids are concerned about losing jobs or pay when missing work to care for sick kids.

Dental visits are recommended to begin by age 1, but most children 1-2 years old have not seen a dentist. Less than half of parents say health care providers talked with them about taking their child to a dentist. 1 in 10 parents say a health care provider noted a problem with their child’s teeth at age 1-2.

Over two-thirds of parents feel bariatric surgery should not be an option for adolescents under age 18. Non-white and low-income parents, and those with personal experience considering bariatric surgery, are more likely to consider this option for adolescents under age 18.

Less than 15% of parents are currently able to have online or email communication with their children’s health care providers. One-half of parents feel it would be very helpful to have electronic communication with their children’s health care providers.

More than two-thirds of parents with private health insurance for their children are concerned about out-of-pocket costs. About two-thirds of parents are concerned about the costs of deductibles and premiums for private health insurance. One in five parents are concerned that private insurance does not cover their children's medicines.

Nearly 90% of children with dental insurance receive regular dental care. Only 58% of children with no dental insurance receive regular dental care. Nearly one-quarter of parents report "costs too much" as a big problem in getting dental care for their children.

56% of parents say that their children's primary care doctor never asks whether they have concerns about their children's mental health. 1 out of 4 parents have used specialty mental health services for their children. 1 out of 5 parents have children with a mental health diagnosis.

29% of parents report having a retail clinic in their community. In communities with retail clinics, 1 out of 6 parents have used them for their children. 1 out of 4 parents would have taken their children to the emergency room, if the retail clinic was not available. 78% of retail clinic visits were covered at least in part by health insurance.

6% of parents report that they have postponed a medical visit or medications for their children because of high gas prices in 2007. Nearly two-thirds of US parents would apply to a program that would provide "gas cards" to help get to their children's health care visits. Adults think that gas/oil companies and the government should fund a "gas card" program.