Cancer care and survival are affected by common disruptions in health insurance coverage

A systematic review finds that health insurance disruptions are common and adversely affect cancer treatment and survival. Medicaid coverage disruptions were particularly impactful among patients with cancer, associated with advanced stage diagnosis, delays to testing and worse survival. A study conducted by researchers across a range of institutions, led by K. Robin Yabroff (American Cancer Society, GA, USA), has reviewed 29 papers on the effects of disruptions to health insurance coverage on treatment, care and survival of patients with cancer in the USA. While it has long been apparent that US citizens who do not have health insurance are likely...