Roughly One In Six Cancer Survivors Forgo Some Medical Care Due To Cost, Study Finds

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AARP Bulletin: "Two years after undergoing a double mastectomy and chemotherapy so severe she was hospitalized in intensive care for several weeks, breast cancer survivor Denise Hicks should be following what her doctors call 'the plan,'" which includes additional medications and treatments. But she can't. "Hicks has health insurance but already reached her coverage limits. So the CT scan that her oncologist 'strongly advised" months ago to check a possible recurrence remains undone. ... She's also skipping recommended medications. ...

Hick's disquieting predicament is not unique. At least 2 million Americans - roughly one in six cancer survivors - decide to forgo at least some of their recommended follow-up medical care because of the cost, according to recent research" published in the medical journal Cancer (Kirchheimer, 8/27).

This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org.

© Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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