Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health and Life Insurance Denial Due to Cancer among Cancer Survivors

Adrienne B. Lent, Carlos O. Garrido, Emily H. Baird, Ruta Viela and Robin B. Harris
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Adrienne B. Lent: University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, 1515 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Carlos O. Garrido: Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, 3E638, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Emily H. Baird: Kinesiology and Public Health, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
Ruta Viela: Kinesiology and Public Health, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
Robin B. Harris: University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, 1515 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: This study examined racial/ethnic differences in health/life insurance denial due to cancer among cancer survivors after the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data were obtained from 2012–2020. The dependent variable asked: “Were you ever denied health insurance or life insurance coverage because of your cancer?” Cancer survivors were included if they were diagnosed with cancer after the Affordable Care Act ( N = 14,815). Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions for age, sex, income, and employment provided odds ratios of insurance denial due to cancer across racial/ethnic groups: Non-Hispanic White, Black, and Other/mixed race; and Hispanic. Statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05) were found between those who were denied or not denied insurance across sex, age, race/ethnicity, income, and employment. Adjusted regressions found significantly higher odds ratios of insurance denial for Blacks (OR: 3.00, 95% CI: 1.77, 5.08), Other/mixed race (OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.02), and Hispanics (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.02, 4.42) compared to Whites. Differences were observed across sex, income, and employment. Cancer survivors report racial/ethnic disparities in health and life insurance denial due to their cancer despite policy changes. This may be harmful for those who are already financially vulnerable due to their cancer diagnosis and exacerbate racial/ethnic cancer disparities.

Keywords: race and ethnicity; health insurance; life insurance; Affordable Care Act; cancer survivors; cancer health disparities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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