The Financial Toxicity of Cancer Treatment: A Pilot Study Assessing Out-of-Pocket Expenses and the Insured Cancer Patient’s Experience

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The Oncologist: The Financial Toxicity of Cancer Treatment: A Pilot Study Assessing Out-of-Pocket Expenses and the Insured Cancer Patient’s Experience

Disclosures: S. Yousuf Zafar: Genentech (H); HealthWell Foundation (RF); Jeffrey M. Peppercorn: GlaxoSmithKline (E [spouse]); Genentech (C/A); Novartis (RF); Ownership Interest: GlaxoSmithKline (OI [spouse]); Amy P. Abernethy: Orange Leaf Associates, Advoset (E); Novartis, Pfizer (C/A); Pfizer, Helsinn, Amgen, Kanglaite, Alexion, Biovex, DARA, MiCoNone (RF). The other authors indicated no financial relationships. 

Conclusion. Insured patients undergoing cancer treatment and seeking copayment assistance experience considerable subjective financial burden, and they may alter their care to defray out-of-pocket expenses. Health insurance does not eliminate financial distress or health disparities among cancer patients. Future research should investigate coverage thresholds that minimize adverse financial outcomes and identify cancer patients at greatest risk for financial toxicity.