Health insurance and financial hardship in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272740
• Publication Date: 2022-08-05T17:38:16Z
• Authors: Courtney P. Williams; Gabrielle B. Rocque; Nicole E. Caston; Kathleen D. Galla...; Rebekah S. M. Angove; Eric Anderson; Janet S. de Moor; Michael T. Halpern; Anaeze C. Offodile; Risha Gidwani
• Keywords: Underinsured; Pandemic

Uninsured or underinsured individuals with cancer are likely to experience financial hardship, including forgoing healthcare non-healthcare needs such as food, housing, utilities. This study evaluates the association between health insurance coverage and hardship among survivors during COVID-19 pandemic. cross-sectional analysis used Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) survey data from May July 2020. Cancer who previously received case management aid PAF self-reported challenges paying for Associations payment were estimated using Poisson regression robust standard errors, which allowed estimation of adjusted relative risks (aRR). Of 1,437 respondents, 74% had annual household incomes <$48,000. Most respondents enrolled in Medicare (48%), 22% employer-sponsored insurance, 13% Medicaid, 6% an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan, 3% uninsured. Approximately 31% reported trouble Respondents uninsured (aRR 2.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.83-3.64), ACA plan 1.86, CI 1.28-2.72), 1.70, 1.23-2.34), 1.49, 1.09-2.03) higher risk compared Medicaid enrollees. Challenges by 57% 40% reporting 28% transportation, 20% internet. In models, enrollees less have difficulties beneficiaries. Despite 97% our survivor sample being insured, pandemic, respectively. Greater attention both medical non-medical burden is needed given economic pressures