Financial Burdens on U.S. Cancer Patients

A recent study conducted by the American Cancer Society illuminates the severe financial challenges encountered by U.S. working-age adults diagnosed with cancer. Its findings, published on April 23 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, are that nearly three in five U.S. adults in this demographic encounter financial challenges such as taking unpaid leave, losing a job or experiencing gaps in health insurance coverage. These financial burdens not only make it challenging to afford expensive cancer treatments but also lead to delays in care and heightened stress levels.

?Many of these challenges are significantly more common in the U.S. than in Australia, where health insurance is provided to all citizens by the government and paid medical leave laws are stronger. Indeed, much of the great work of the many hundreds of cancer charities in America, including ones on which I serve as board of directors chair, is that of grant-making to families of patients facing high financial expenses resulting from the disease.?

?The study highlights that cancer patients are nearly twice as likely as non-cancer patients to struggle with paying medical bills and are more prone to skipping or postponing necessary treatments due to financial constraints. The focus of the research was on individuals who rely on employer-based health insurance, which is the norm in the U.S. Such plans can bring high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, and losing access to them, such as if no longer able to work full-time due to cancer, can be devastating.

?Maintaining employment while undergoing cancer treatment poses significant challenges, with many patients needing to adjust their work hours, roles or even career paths. Lack of workplace accommodations such as flexible schedules or remote work options exacerbates the issue, resulting in higher rates of job loss among cancer patients. Additionally, a significant portion of working adults with cancer history do not receive paid sick leave, particularly younger survivors with lower incomes.

?Even for those who have access to paid time off, it often falls short of meeting the demands of cancer treatment, including frequent medical appointments and administrative tasks. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave nationwide for eligible employees. That’s unpaid leave. But many cancer patients are employed by small businesses exempt from this law.

?In light of these findings, the American Cancer Society advocates for policies to address the financial hardships faced by cancer patients, including paid family and medical leave and permanent health insurance subsidies. Ensuring access to affordable healthcare and protecting individuals from the choice between treatment and employment are crucial steps in supporting the well-being of cancer patients.

?I am unsettled by the prevalence uncovered in the study of financial hardship in the U.S. caused by cancer. But I’m doubly committed to strengthening cancer charities that are doing what they can to offset some of these hardships faced by patients and their families. While not an exactly equivalent program, I’m also honoured to represent Cure Brain Cancer Foundation’s National Advocacy Service, which works on behalf of Australian brain cancer patients who are unable or struggle to self-advocate or connect to critical community and government services.