TY - JOUR
T1 - Improved Survival of Young Adults with Cancer Following the Passage of the Affordable Care Act
AU - Roth, Michael
AU - Berkman, Amy
AU - Andersen, Clark R.
AU - Cuglievan, Branko
AU - Livingston, J. Andrew
AU - Hildebrandt, Michelle
AU - Bleyer, Archie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press.
PY - 2022/2
Y1 - 2022/2
N2 - Background: Compared with their ensured counterparts, uninsured adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are more likely to present with advanced disease and have poor prognoses. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010, provided health care coverage to millions of uninsured young adults by allowing them to remain on their parents’ insurance until age 26 years (the Dependent Care Expansion, DCE). The impact of the expansion of insurance coverage on survival outcomes for young adults with cancer has not been assessed. Participants: Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we identified all patients aged 12-16 (younger-AYAs), 19-23 (middle-AYAs), and 26-30 (older-AYAs) who were diagnosed with cancer between 2006-2008 (pre-ACA) and 2011-2013 (post-ACA). Methods: In this population-based cohort study, we used an accelerated failure time model to assess changes in survival rates before and after the enactment of the ACA DCE. Results: Middle-AYAs ages 19-23 (thus eligible to remain on their parents’ insurance) experienced significantly increased 2-year survival after the enactment of the ACA DCE (survival time ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval: 0.75-2.43, P = .029) and that did not occur in younger-AYAs (ages 12-16). Patients with sarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia accounted for the majority of improvement in survival. Middle-AYAs of hispanic ethnicity and those with low socioeconomic status experienced trends of improved survival after the ACA DCE was enacted. Conclusion: Survival outcomes improved for young adults with cancer following the expansion of health insurance coverage. Efforts are needed to expand coverage for the millions of young adults who do not have health insurance.
AB - Background: Compared with their ensured counterparts, uninsured adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are more likely to present with advanced disease and have poor prognoses. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010, provided health care coverage to millions of uninsured young adults by allowing them to remain on their parents’ insurance until age 26 years (the Dependent Care Expansion, DCE). The impact of the expansion of insurance coverage on survival outcomes for young adults with cancer has not been assessed. Participants: Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we identified all patients aged 12-16 (younger-AYAs), 19-23 (middle-AYAs), and 26-30 (older-AYAs) who were diagnosed with cancer between 2006-2008 (pre-ACA) and 2011-2013 (post-ACA). Methods: In this population-based cohort study, we used an accelerated failure time model to assess changes in survival rates before and after the enactment of the ACA DCE. Results: Middle-AYAs ages 19-23 (thus eligible to remain on their parents’ insurance) experienced significantly increased 2-year survival after the enactment of the ACA DCE (survival time ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval: 0.75-2.43, P = .029) and that did not occur in younger-AYAs (ages 12-16). Patients with sarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia accounted for the majority of improvement in survival. Middle-AYAs of hispanic ethnicity and those with low socioeconomic status experienced trends of improved survival after the ACA DCE was enacted. Conclusion: Survival outcomes improved for young adults with cancer following the expansion of health insurance coverage. Efforts are needed to expand coverage for the millions of young adults who do not have health insurance.
KW - Affordable Care Act
KW - cancer
KW - health insurance
KW - young adult
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U2 - 10.1093/oncolo/oyab049
DO - 10.1093/oncolo/oyab049
M3 - Article
C2 - 35641206
AN - SCOPUS:85131168611
SN - 1083-7159
VL - 27
SP - 135
EP - 143
JO - Oncologist
JF - Oncologist
IS - 2
ER -