Survivor Views

Our latest survey finds that cancer patients and survivors would be less likely to stay current with preventive care, including recommended cancer screenings, if the provision requiring these services be covered at no cost were repealed. This survey also explores the challenges of limited provider networks and the need for patient navigation.

Cancer patients and survivors must balance reducing their health care costs with ensuring they have comprehensive coverage of services, treatments, and care providers.

Our latest survey finds that female cancer patients are less satisfied with the quality of their cancer care than male cancer patients and are more likely to report that their symptoms were not taken seriously and that they had to prove their symptoms to providers.

Prescription drug costs are a significant burden on cancer patients and survivors, sometimes even leading patients to miss or delay taking prescribed medications. The latest Survivor Views survey explores the role copay assistance programs can play in reducing this burden, and also addresses patient navigation and digital therapeutics.

Nearly three-quarters of cancer patients and survivors are worried about their ability to pay for their care and 51% have gone into debt as a result of their costs. The debt burden extends across insurance types and income levels, with women and Black cancer patients more likely to report medical debt.

The cost of cancer care is substantially impacting the lives of cancer patients and survivors. Our latest survey finds that half report incurring cancer-related medical debt and nearly three-quarters are worried about their ability to pay for needed care. The impacts of medical debt on cancer patients range from facing collections and lowered credit scores to avoiding treatment for medical issues, with unequal burden across populations.