As a cancer patient, access to innovative drugs can help extend your life — that is if you have health insurance, a new study finds.
In a JAMA Open Network study published Monday, researchers from the American Cancer Society found that the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced-stage cancer patients improved survival for patients across all insurance types. However, there was a significant widening of the survival gap between privately insured patients and uninsured. The two-year survival rate of privately insured patients (with melanoma) jumped from nearly 29% to 46%, whereas in uninsured patients, the survival rate increased from about 16% to just over 28%.
“If you give people good, high-quality care, people stop dying. That’s it, it’s that simple,” said Otis Brawley, an oncology professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.
Already have an account? Log in
