Article

In The Literature: Improved Coverage Translates into Imrpoved Outcomes in Young Cancer Patients

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) will likely improve insurance coverage for most young adults, but subsets of young adults in the United States will face significant premium increases in the individual market. We examined the association between insurance status and cancer-specific outcomes among young adults.

Methods We used the SEER program to identify 39,447 patients age 20 to 40 years diagnosed with a malignant neoplasm between 2007 and 2009. The association between insurance status and stage at presentation, employment of definitive therapy, and all-cause mortality was assessed using multivariable logistic or Cox regression, as appropriate.

Results

Patients who were uninsured were more likely to be younger, male, nonwhite, and unmarried than patients who were insured and were also more likely to be from regions of lower income, education, and population density (P < .001 in all cases). After adjustment for pertinent confounding variables, an association between insurance coverage and decreased likelihood of presentation with metastatic disease (odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.94; P = .003), increased receipt of definitive treatment (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.52 to 2.50; P < .001), and decreased death resulting from any cause (hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.91; P = .002) was noted.

Conclusion

The improved coverage fostered by the ACA may translate into better outcomes among most young adults with cancer. Extra consideration will need to be given to ensure that patients who will face premium increases in the individual market can obtain insurance coverage under the ACA.

Publication: http://bit.ly/1ksDxbn

Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology

Related Videos
Naim Alkhouri, MD
Jaime Almandoz, MD, MBA
Martin Edelman, MD
Sam Peasah, PhD, MBA, RPh, director for the Center of High-Value Health Care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
Pierluigi Porcu, MD
Image credit: Medical technology and futuristic concept. Doctor hologram modern virtual screen interface | SOMKID - stock.adobe.com
JC Scott, CEO and president of The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)
Elizabeth Grush, MBA
Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Related Content
AJMC Managed Markets Network Logo
CH LogoCenter for Biosimilars Logo