For all stageable cancers combined, uninsured with stage I disease have worse survival than privately insured with stage II disease<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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WEDNESDAY, July 13, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Individuals without private health insurance coverage are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer and have worse survival, according to a study published online July 13 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians<\/em>.<\/p>\n Jingxuan Zhao, M.P.H., from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, and colleagues examined the associations between health insurance coverage type and stage at diagnosis and long-term survival among individuals aged 18 to 64 years diagnosed with 19 common cancers between 2010 and 2013, with survival follow-up through Dec. 31, 2019.<\/p>\n The researchers found that for all stageable cancers combined and separately, Medicaid-insured and uninsured patients were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage (III\/IV) cancer compared with privately insured patients. Uninsured patients with stage I disease had worse survival than privately insured patients with stage II disease for all stageable cancers combined and for six cancer sites (prostate, colorectal, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, oral cavity, liver, and esophagus). For all cancers combined, patients without private insurance coverage had worse short- and long-term survival at each stage; uninsured patients had worse stage-specific survival for 12 of 17 stageable cancers and had worse survival for leukemia and brain tumors.<\/p>\n “Our findings extend earlier research showing that lack of health insurance coverage is associated with later stage at diagnosis and worse short-term survival among individuals newly diagnosed with cancer,” Zhau said in a statement. “Improving access to comprehensive health insurance coverage is critical for ensuring access to care throughout the cancer care continuum, including receipt of recommended cancer screening, timely diagnosis, and quality treatment.”<\/p>\n