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More childhood cancer survivors are insured under ACA
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a United States federal law that took effect in March 2010. This law improved access to health insurance for many people, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, those under age 26, and people with incomes under a certain level.
This study surveyed people in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Researchers compared the insurance coverage of cancer survivors and their siblings before and after the ACA became law. Researchers wanted to find out if the ACA affected how cancer survivors and their siblings got health insurance. The researchers wanted to know if study participants were insured and, if so, what type of insurance they had. Researchers wanted to know if participants’ coverage was:
- Public: Purchased through a health insurance marketplace run by the government
- Private: Purchased themselves or through an employer
Researchers also looked at participants’ age, race, gender, income, health conditions, and where they lived.
Results showed that more cancer survivors and their siblings were insured after the ACA became law, especially those ages 18–25. Cancer survivors were more likely to have public insurance than their siblings. This was especially true for those who had severe, pre-existing conditions or who lived in states where Medicaid was expanded to include people with low incomes.
Despite more survivors being insured, not having enough funds for health care costs is still a problem for cancer survivors when compared to their siblings. Cancer survivors making less than $60,000 per year are concerned about not being able to get and keep good health insurance. This concern is even greater for those who live in states that do not have Medicaid coverage expansion
What does this mean for you?
This study shows the importance of looking at how laws like the ACA affect cancer survivors. You should be aware of your insurance choices, both public and private (what you buy individually or get through an employer). You should also take steps to better understand what health insurance is, common health insurance terms, and what your health insurance policies cover, especially if you are a young adult who had cancer as a child.
Reference
Kirchhoff AC, Waters AR, Liu Q, Ji X, Yasui Y, Yabroff KR, Conti RM, Huang IC, Henderson T, Leisenring WM, Armstrong GT, Nathan PC, Park ER. Health insurance among survivors of childhood cancer following Affordable Care Act implementation. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2024 Sep 1;116(9):1466-1478.