Catastrophic expenditure among lung cancer patients with health insurance at National Cancer hospital in 2020

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the percentage of households of lung cancer patients with health insurance that suffer catastrophic health expenditure at National Cancer Hospital in 2020. Methods: A cross-sectional study on 102 lung cancer patients who have been treated continuously for at least 1 year at the hospital. Results: There is 89.2% of Households experienced financial catastrophe at 20% threshold, 62.7% at 40% threshold. Households of patients in stage IV experienced financial catastrophe at 40% equal to 0.292 patients in stage II-III. Up to 36.3% of patients have ever lacked or could not pay for medical examination and treatment, 29.4% of patients used to spend or could not pay for drugs, 62.7% of patients had to borrow from relatives, or friends; and 42.2% of patients had to use their savings for other purposes to cover the costs of lung cancer treatment. Conclusion: Despite having health insurance, the proportion of households and lung cancer patients experienced financial catastrophe at National Cancer Hospital in 2020 accounts for a large proportion. It is necessary to strengthen communication activities to encourage people to participate in continuously health insurance scheme, improve the rate of screening and early detection of cancer. In addition, it is necessary to expand the list under the payment scope of the Health Insurance Fund as well as enhancing the effectiveness of cancer drug price negotiation to reduce the economic burden for patients. Keywords: Catastrophic health expenditure, economic burden, lung cancer, health insurance