Recent Findings in Cancer Described by Researchers from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (Nonelderly Adult Cancer Survivors in High Deductible Health Plan: Healthcare Expenditure, Utilization and Access): Cancer

2021 OCT 07 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Data detailed on cancer have been presented. According to news originating from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “To compare healthcare expenditure, utilization and access between nonelderly adult cancer survivors enrolled in a high deductible health plan with a health savings account (‘HDHP+HSA’), HDHP without HSA (‘HDHP alone’) and low deductible health plan (‘LDHP’).”

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: “1735 cancer survivors, aged 18-64 years, with continuous private coverage identified from the 2012-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: HDHP alone (n = 353), HDHP+HSA (n = 242) and LDHP (n = 1140). Healthcare expenditures, utilization and inability/delay obtaining medical care were analyzed using generalized linear regressions with inverse propensity score weighting and doubly robust estimation. HDHP alone group (23,255 USD) had significantly higher total healthcare expenditure compared to HDHP+HSA (15,580 USD, * * p* * = 0.012) and LDHP (16,261 USD, * * p* * = 0.016). HDHP alone (6089 USD; * * p* * = 0.002) and HDHP+HSA (5743 USD; * * p* * = 0.012) groups had significantly higher out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure compared to LDHP (4853 USD). HDHP alone (17,128 USD, * * p* * = 0.010) and LDHP (12,645 USD, * * p* * = 0.045) had significantly higher private insurer payments compared to HDHP+HSA (9216 USD). No differences were found in utilization or inability/delay obtaining medical care across groups.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Non-elderly adult cancer survivors with continuous coverage and comparable sociodemographic characteristics enrolled in HDHP with HSA displayed the lowest healthcare costs compared to HDHP without HSA and LDHP. HDHP+HSA had a significantly higher OOP expenditure than LDHP. No significant differences were observed in utilization or access among groups.”

For more information on this research see: Nonelderly Adult Cancer Survivors in High Deductible Health Plan: Healthcare Expenditure, Utilization and Access. Healthcare, 2021,9(1090):1090. (Healthcare - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/healthcare). The publisher for Healthcare is MDPI AG.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9091090.

Our news editors report that more information may be obtained by contacting Ruchira Mahashabde, Division of Pharmaceutical Evaluation and Policy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. Additional authors for this research include Chenghui Li.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)