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Related Experiment Videos

Predictors of Medical Debt Sent to Collections after Radiotherapy.

Laila A Gharzai1, Yingzhe Alex Liu2, Zequn Sun2

  • 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago IL.

International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
|June 27, 2026
PubMed
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This summary is machine-generated.

Radiotherapy patients face significant out-of-pocket costs (OOPC), risking debt. Single, smoking, or commercially insured patients with higher OOPC are more likely to incur unpaid medical debt.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Health Economics
  • Patient Financial Toxicity

Background:

  • Radiotherapy (RT) is a critical cancer treatment.
  • Patients undergoing RT often incur substantial out-of-pocket costs (OOPC).
  • High OOPC can lead to significant financial distress and medical debt.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and predictors of unpaid medical debt among patients receiving RT.
  • To identify patient and financial factors associated with debt sent to collections.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 14,774 patients treated with RT between 2023-2024.
  • Collected data on physician/hospital fees, OOPC, and unpaid debt sent to collections.
  • Utilized multivariable analyses to identify factors associated with unpaid debt.
Keywords:
financial toxicitymedical debtpatient screening

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Main Results:

  • Most patients paid OOPC (61.1%), averaging $1,350.70.
  • A minority (2.7%) had debt sent to collections, averaging $1,109.90.
  • Factors associated with unpaid debt included being single, current smoker, having commercial insurance, and higher OOPC.

Conclusions:

  • While most radiotherapy patients pay their out-of-pocket costs, a significant minority incur debt sent to collections.
  • Patient demographics, insurance type, smoking status, and OOPC level are key predictors of unpaid debt.
  • Interventions addressing financial toxicity in RT patients are crucial.