Financial Burden of High-Cost Immunotherapy on Cancer Survivors

Strategic Insights -

Cancer survivors often experience significant financial hardship due to the rising costs of novel immunotherapies, making it challenging for them to afford medical care. A recent study published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship has examined the association between financial hardship and receipt of high-cost immunotherapy among cancer survivors. The research, conducted at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, used data from the 2010-2020 Health and Retirement Study linked to Medicare Part B and D claims to examine cancer survivors aged 65 and older who received infusion and oral immunotherapy.

Key Takeaways:

  • High-cost immunotherapy significantly increased the likelihood of financial hardship among cancer survivors, with a 7.2 percentage point increase in the inability to afford medical care (95% CI, -0.011 to 0.156; P = 0.089).
  • Blood cancer survivors experienced greater financial hardship than those with solid tumor cancers, with a 23.8 percentage point increase in the inability to afford medical care and a 42.7 percentage point increase in taking fewer medications than prescribed.
  • The study found that blood cancer survivors were more likely to report financial hardship compared to those diagnosed with solid tumors.
  • The study underscores the need for interventions to alleviate economic burdens and improve access for patients receiving high-cost cancer treatments.
  • The research was supported by the NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Statistics:

  • 7.2 percentage point increase in the inability to afford medical care among all cancer survivors.
  • 23.8 percentage point increase in the inability to afford medical care among blood cancer survivors.
  • 42.7 percentage point increase in taking fewer medications than prescribed among blood cancer survivors.
  • 95% confidence intervals (CI) ranged from -0.011 to 0.156 for the impossible to afford medical care (P = 0.089).

Sources:

  • Financial Burden of High-cost Immunotherapy Among Cancer Survivors In Medicare. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 2025. Springer, One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, Ny, United States. (www.springer.com; www.springerlink.com/content/1932-2259/)
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Fay W Boozman College of Public Health, Dept. of Health Policy and Management, 4301 West Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States.