I am among the majority of Americans whose family has been impacted by cancer.  My family’s experience includes both of my grandmothers receiving terminal diagnoses in the same year.  Two very different women, they chose very different approaches to treatment and living with cancer.  What they had in common was their ability to face the disease and make choices on their terms with the support of their family.

Later in my career in safety-net health care, I met lots of people without that privilege.  I saw that they often had access to the highest tech, and cutting edge cancer treatment when they were inside the gleaming clinics and hospitals, but they would return to a chaotic and financially unstable life.  Already on the edge, they faced a second cancer that threatened their security and ability to support themselves.  How could we be treating cancer in the body but not the disease’s impact on the real life we were trying to save?

Cancer’s staggering financial toll

A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event under any circumstances.  As well as the obvious health impacts, cancer treatment has a big impact on personal finances due to the inability to work and the costs of treatment itself.

Approaching half of the people (42.4% ) with a new diagnosis of cancer in the U.S. will have depleted their life’s assets within 2 years.  People being treated for cancer are 2.65 times more likely to file for personal bankruptcy than those without cancer. This actually increases the risk of early death from the cancer itself.

People being treated for cancer are 2.65 times more likely to file for personal bankruptcy than those without cancer.

For people who are financially insecure and have social barriers (such as food insecurity, unstable housing, or lack of transportation), navigating cancer treatment while maintaining basic human needs can be nearly impossible.  These social barriers fall along racial lines.  People of color in the United States face a "double whammy": they are both more likely to get cancer and less likely to receive recommended treatment for it.  COVID-19 has made these barriers worse and increased the stress felt by people diagnosed with cancer during the pandemic.

Cancer navigation pilot to provide practical help

I'm proud that HealthPartners and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) recognize these barriers and believe that every American deserves affordable access to comprehensive care designed to meet their individual needs. That is why we have launched the Cancer Navigation Program pilot project with the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF). PAF is a national non-profit organization with more than 20 years of experience providing patient advocate services and financial aid to people with a life-threatening illness.

This program provides confidential, hands-on support services from experienced patient advocates. They help HealthPartners members who have been recently diagnosed with cancer and are experiencing healthcare-related economic distress. PAF will help patients find solutions, reducing the risk of their health worsening because of financial difficulties.

Dwayne’s story

Dwayne (not his real name) had worked for his employer for over 30 years but had been unable to work for months due to a recurrence of liver cancer.  Without access to workplace disability benefits, Dwayne was living on savings. He would soon be unable to pay for basic living expenses such as food, gas, and utility bills. His situation was even more challenging because he didn’t have personal access to a computer or smartphone.

So, Dwayne had lots of medical resources for treating cancer, but far fewer resources for addressing the other areas of his life.

At HealthPartners, we see PAF's specialized resources  as a great addition to our ability to support members like Dwayne in coordinating their care.  Our disease and case managers have a relationship with members with chronic disease and often know their life circumstances. They’re able to identify people who have a cancer diagnosis, ask questions to understand their current social needs and refer them to our partners with PAF. They then provide specialized support as an extension of the care team for those members at a time of great need.

The pilot will include various ways that HealthPartners can connect members to this service, including through our Member Services teams, and through targeted electronic communication directly to members.

The goal is to measure important factors like patients’ top challenges and the pilot’s ability to address them and lower stress and anxiety.  We will share what we learn and use those lessons to further innovate.

Money worries managed, life simplified

For Dwayne, this support could not have come at a better time.  After connecting with the Cancer Navigation Program, his case manager was able to:

• Connect him with expedited federal disability benefits;
• Locate over $500 in ongoing monthly benefits for goods, gas, and energy assistance;
• Secure a charitable grant to cover his annual home insurance premium;
• Assist with Dwayne’s goal of completing his advanced directives, will, and power of attorney. They also coordinated appointments for Dwayne and his brother after they struggled to find an available notary due to the COVID pandemic;
• Get Dwayne approved for supplemental coverage through the state, including a charity program for outstanding medical balances that provided write-offs of over $600.

Now that Dwayne’s case with PAF is resolved, he has continued access to affordable medical coverage, consistent monthly income, and assistance that will allow him to remain in his home and meet his monthly expenses.  With these issues addressed, he can focus on the things he should: his health, the people he cares about, and the things he values most.