Out-of-pocket cost by cancer stage at diagnosis in commercially insured patients in the United States

Patients diagnosed with cancer may face significant financial toxicity, specifically out-of-pocket (OOP) costs related to medical care. Diagnosis and treatment of cancer at earlier stages may reduce this burden. To better understand the potential impact of earlier diagnosis on patient OOP, our colleagues recently published an analysis using integrated claims-clinical data to estimate OOP costs among patients with cancer in the three years after diagnosis by type and stage at diagnosis. 18 solid cancer types were assessed with a focus on breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate. Across all cancer types evaluated, patients diagnosed at later stages (III/IV) had a higher 3-year total OOP cost compared to those diagnosed at earlier stages (I/II). For example, patient OOP costs ranged from $2,754 (stage 1 anal cancer) to $35,253 (stage IV lung cancer). Results suggest that earlier stage diagnosis and treatment of cancers may help lower patient OOP costs in addition to promoting decreased morbidity and mortality.

McGarvey N, Gitlin M, Fadli F, Chung KC. Out-of-pocket cost by cancer stage at diagnosis in commercially insured patients in the United States, J Med Econ. 2023 Jan-Dec;26(1):1318-1329. doi.org/10.1080/13696998.2023.2254649