Cost of bereavement: A study of Medicaid expenditures for children and adults following the death of a household member

The death of a household member can significantly affect surviving members’ health and well-being. This study examines health care costs and service utilization among bereaved adults experiencing the death of a child household member and bereaved children experiencing the death of an adult household member using 2017–2019 national Medicaid and CHIP claims data. Bereaved individuals were propensity score-matched to non-bereaved counterparts using predeath demographic and clinical characteristics. Outcomes were measured over 12 months. Bereaved adults showed increased crisis care, including higher inpatient and emergency department use; reduced outpatient use; and elevated spending on substance use disorder services. Bereaved children demonstrated significantly lower total and general medical spending, with no detectable changes in utilization patterns, likely reflecting unmet needs and dependence on grieving adults for care access. Findings highlight substantial post-death health care needs and underscore the importance of early support, with future research needed on longer-term impacts.