The Silent Cost: Unveiling the Health Impacts of the 'Pink Tax' on Breast Cancer Patients
Women are facing a detrimental pink tax on their health care, paying more out of pocket compared to men This burden becomes especially grave for breast cancer patients, as the additional expenses may jeopardize their well-being
Recent reports indicate that women are facing an additional financial burden in their healthcare, commonly referred to as the "pink" tax. Compared to men, women are shouldering higher out-of-pocket expenses, particularly when it comes to breast cancer treatment. The severity of these extra costs is potentially detrimental to their overall well-being.
In the United States, women who are covered by employer-provided health insurance are paying approximately $15.4 billion more in out-of-pocket healthcare expenses than men with equivalent coverage, excluding premium charges. This disconcerting information has been unveiled in a recent report by financial services firm Deloitte.
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The analysis reveals that women are paying similar premiums to men, but their coverage has a lower actuarial value by approximately $1.34 billion. This analysis was conducted on over 16 million individuals with employer-sponsored health insurance from 2017 to 2022.
Furthermore, the report highlights that women utilize their healthcare benefits and visit the doctor more frequently than men, resulting in a 10% increase in health expenditures. However, despite removing the expensive maternity care, women still face 18% higher out-of-pocket expenses. This percentage rises to 20% when accounting for maternity costs.
Dr. Kulleni Gebreyes, a report author, expressed that women still face an additional financial burden beyond the disparities in healthcare utilization. It appears that insurance companies are providing less coverage for women compared to men, particularly when it comes to services like breast cancer screenings, which can be more expensive than other cancer screenings.
Consider the gender wage gap and the rising out-of-pocket expenses, as the relationship between financial and physical well-being is well-established," Gebreyes acknowledged. "Discovering the presence of the pink tax in healthcare was unexpected."
Gebreyes expressed her anticipation for benefits managers to thoroughly assess the design of their company's insurance plans and strive for greater fairness, given the significant number of women currently in the workforce.
The Susan G. Komen organization published a report on Monday highlighting the substantial impact of the expensive breast cancer treatment on patients' overall success in their treatment. An additional program offered by Komen aims to alleviate the financial burden faced by eligible breast cancer patients who struggle with maintaining basic needs due to the exorbitant costs of their treatment.
From April 2022 to March of the current year, the program awarded grants totaling almost $9.1 million to approximately 16,000 patients. To gain insight into the recipients, Komen examined the expenses that the funds were used for. The primary financial stressors identified were housing, transportation to treatment, utility bills, as well as the costs of food and medicine.
The report further highlighted that, in addition to concerns about their treatment, as many as 73% of adult cancer survivors experience anxiety regarding the expenses associated with medical care.
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Cait Diamond Stone, the vice president of community health at Komen, revealed that she still becomes emotional when she recalls a thank you note she received from a program beneficiary. This individual had been terminated from her job due to being unable to work enough hours while undergoing chemotherapy. However, she wasn't reaching out to complain. Instead, she expressed her happiness and gratitude for Komen's assistance in paying her rent, which left her with just enough money to purchase a pizza to celebrate her twins' birthday.
"The joy that such a simple act brought cannot be understated," Stone expressed. "The stories of the individuals we support are incredibly moving."
The cost of cancer treatment can be overwhelming, with an average bill of $2,900 in just the first month of diagnosis, as reported by a 2020 study. For many patients, this is an expense that they simply cannot afford. To cover the costs, they are forced to deplete their savings, borrow money, or rely on credit cards, if these options are even available to them.
Notably, breast cancer stands out as having the highest treatment cost among all types of cancer, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The financial burden associated with breast cancer and other forms of cancer is only increasing over time.
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Total spending on cancer care in the US has significantly increased in the past decade, with projections indicating even higher costs in the future. Research demonstrates that advancements in biologics and chemotherapy drugs have led to rising expenses, while commercial insurers have transferred a larger portion of medical care costs to patients through higher deductibles, coinsurance, copayment rates, and premiums. Compounding the issue is the uncertainty faced by patients regarding the exact cost of treatment until they receive their bill by mail.
Moreover, women in the US often experience greater financial hardships compared to men, as they continue to earn less. In 2022, women earned only $0.82 for every dollar earned by men. The disparity is even more pronounced for Black and Latina women, with Black women earning only $0.63 and Latina women earning just $0.58 for every dollar earned by White men, as reported by the US General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress.
The Komen report discovered that almost half of breast cancer patients expressed that even a slight financial strain would affect the choices they make regarding their cancer treatment. They may face the difficult decision of allocating funds towards their bills or their cancer care, which includes expenses such as laboratories, medications, surgeries, hospital stays, outpatient treatments, and the necessary time away from work. Consequently, they might choose to delay care or forgo it altogether, resulting in severe and potentially fatal consequences. Studies indicate that women of color, younger women, individuals who are unmarried, and those with limited incomes experience even greater financial burdens.
"The financial burden linked to a breast cancer diagnosis has long been a significant concern for Komen and numerous others. However, due to the economic changes following Covid, the demand for financial support has surged," stated Stone.
As a breast cancer survivor herself, she emphasized the multitude of tasks individuals must cope with after receiving a diagnosis, often overlooking the financial aspect until it becomes a pressing issue."
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"It is challenging at times to take each step forward," Stone expressed.
According to her, providing financial aid is among the most significant ways their organization can alleviate the burdensome impact of cancer.
"I've learned through personal experience, and if you speak to any survivor, they will express the same sentiment: maintaining a positive mental state while undergoing treatment is not only beneficial for yourself, but also for your loved ones," she emphasized. "It's crucial to prioritize both the healing process and cherishing every moment of life."
