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Some patients spend a third of household income on cancer care, despite insurance.
A third of insured people with cancer end up paying more out-of-pocket than they expected, despite having health coverage, researchers at the Duke Cancer Institute have found.
The data showed that costs such as copays and deductibles could lead to financial distress among insured patients of all income levels and with all stages of cancer. Findings will be published in the journal JAMA Oncology.
Many cancer patients can be burdened by 'financial toxicity' that can erode their mental and physical state, especially if they stop pursuing treatment because they feel they can't afford it, said senior author Yousuf Zafar, M.D., a medical oncologist at Duke.
"This study adds to the growing evidence that we need to intervene," Zafar said. "We know there are a lot of barriers that prevent patients from talking about cost with their providers. We need to create tools for patients at risk of financial toxicity and connect them with resources in a timely fashion so they can afford their care."