High-Deductible Health Plans and Mortality Among Cancer Survivors

Is being insured by a high-deductible health plan associated with survival among cancer survivors?In this cross-sectional study using nationwide data from 147 254 respondents in the National Health Interview Survey, high-deductible health plan status was associated with worse overall survival and cancer-specific survival. In contrast, high deductible health plan status was not associated with survival among individuals without a cancer history.This cross-sectional study found that high-deductible health plans were associated with worse survival for cancer survivors, perhaps because they financially disincentivized necessary medical care.

Corresponding Author: Justin M. Barnes, MD, MS, Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 (barnes.justin@mayo.edu).

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