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ReCAP: Gaps in Insurance Coverage for Pediatric Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Rochelle R Smits-Seemann1, Sapna Kaul2, Aimee O Hersh2

  • 1University of Utah; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah; and Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT rochelle.smits@hci.utah.edu.

Journal of Oncology Practice
|October 1, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Gaps in health insurance during pediatric cancer treatment affected 12% of patients. Public insurance at diagnosis increased the risk of insurance gaps, highlighting the need for proactive insurance discussions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Health Services Research
  • Health Insurance Policy

Background:

  • Continuous health insurance is vital for effective pediatric healthcare.
  • Insurance gaps in pediatric cancer care remain an understudied area.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of health insurance gaps in pediatric patients undergoing acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment.
  • To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with insurance coverage disruptions.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of payer data for 380 pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.
  • Data collected from outpatient oncology encounters over the first two years of therapy (1998-2010).
  • Logistic regression used to identify predictors of insurance gaps.

Main Results:

  • 12% of patients experienced an insurance gap within the first two years of treatment.
  • A significant trend of decreasing insurance gaps was observed annually from 1998 to 2010 (P = .001).
  • Public insurance at diagnosis was associated with a four-fold increased likelihood of insurance gaps compared to private insurance (P < .001).

Conclusions:

  • Insurance gaps are a notable concern during pediatric cancer treatment.
  • Discussing insurance status at diagnosis and throughout treatment is crucial to mitigate financial burdens.
  • Further research is needed on the impact of insurance gaps on patient outcomes and post-healthcare reform.
Abstract

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