Assessing the effect of virtual navigation interventions to improve health insurance literacy and decrease financial...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Health Literacy

Background:

• Childhood cancer survivors face significant financial burdens due to ongoing treatment-related healthcare needs.
• Improving health insurance literacy (HIL) is crucial for survivors to manage healthcare costs and navigate insurance plans effectively.
• Limited research exists on the impact of health insurance navigation programs on HIL in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of two distinct health insurance navigation programs (HINT-S and HINT-A) compared to enhanced usual care (EUC) in improving HIL among adult survivors of childhood cancer.
• To evaluate the impact of these interventions on financial burden, out-of-pocket costs, and healthcare utilization.
• To investigate moderators and implementation outcomes of the navigation programs.

Main Methods:

• A three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving a national cohort of childhood cancer survivors.
• Interventions include synchronous (HINT-S) and asynchronous (HINT-A) digitally delivered navigation programs, alongside EUC with an informational booklet.
• Outcomes (HIL, financial burden, costs, utilization) are assessed at 6 and 12 months, with implementation outcomes evaluated concurrently.

Main Results:

• This section is not applicable as the abstract presents a study protocol, not results.
• The study is ongoing and results are pending.
• The protocol outlines the methodology for assessing intervention effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for interventions to enhance health insurance literacy (HIL) among cancer survivors.
• This trial aims to determine the effectiveness and implementation feasibility of health insurance navigation programs.
• Findings could significantly benefit cancer survivors in navigating the U.S. healthcare system and reducing financial strain.