A retrospective analysis of hospital treatment expenditures among young and middle age patients with cancer, 2013-2017 under health reform.

ABSTRACT

Under 60 year olds represent a rapidly growing segment of the cancer population. They often face longer hospital stays, higher treatment intensity, and hospitalization costs. In this background, we aim to assess the impact of the 2009 reforms on the hospital expenses of younger cancer inpatients. Our study sample included 11 791 young and middle age stomach, lung, colorectal, esophageal, and breast cancer inpatients hospitalized during 2013 to 2017. Hospitalization treatment costs of under 60 cancer inpatients increased, but it fell in 2017 under the impact of the health reforms. However, out-of-pocket expenditures rose, which partly reflected the failure of the health insurance scheme to adequately cover cancer inpatient cost, potentially imposing financial hardships on cancer inpatients and their families. To continue to reduce the economic burden of cancer patients, early screening and diagnosis among younger populations and enhanced hospice care integrated with the ongoing primary health care reform are important.