Workplace Benefits Can Ease Financial Burden for Cancer Survivors
Co-authors from The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio conducted research that highlights how workplace policies can help ease the economic toll of cancer treatment.
Cancer survivors who lack employer-sponsored health insurance or paid sick leave face significantly higher rates of financial hardship, according to research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting on May 31. Michael T. Halpern, MD, PhD, MPH, Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Health Services Administration and David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras, PhD, MSc, LPsy, Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health were co-authors for the study.
The study analyzed data from more than 1,100 employed cancer survivors nationwide and found that those without employer health coverage were 70% more likely to worry about paying medical bills and more than twice as likely to skip or delay medical care due to costs.
Financial toxicity—the term researchers use to describe the adverse economic effects of cancer and its treatment—affects the majority of cancer survivors and can include everything from medical debt to food insecurity. While previous research has shown that employment disruptions contribute to these financial struggles, this study is among the first to examine how specific workplace benefits might help.
The researchers used data from the 2021/2022 National Health Interview Survey, representing nearly 5 million employed cancer survivors across the United States. They found that about 77% of survivors had employer-sponsored health insurance, while 72% had access to paid sick leave.
Cancer survivors without paid sick leave were 40% more likely to worry about medical bills and more than twice as likely to delay medical care due to costs compared to those with this benefit. Both employer-sponsored insurance and paid sick leave were also associated with lower rates of food insecurity among survivors.
The findings remained consistent even when researchers focused only on survivors who had private insurance, suggesting that the source and stability of coverage matters beyond just having insurance.
The authors conclude that employers should consider expanding benefits to support workers with cancer and other serious medical conditions, noting that such policies could help employees maintain their health while contributing to positive workplace environments.