Cancer is a significant driver of employer healthcare costs. While it accounts for only 1% of claims volumes [1], it makes up 15% of overall employer healthcare spending [2]. Although cancer hasn’t been a top priority for benefits managers in the past due to its complexity, increased healthcare spending is leading organizations to look for innovative solutions.
Prevention and early detection costs are typically less than the cost of treating late-stage cancer. It is in an employer’s best interest to prioritize prevention and access to screening to save more lives and control healthcare costs. At-home screening tests such as LetsGetChecked’s at-home Colon Cancer Screening Test can reach employees from wherever they call home, identifying cancer risk early for improved clinical outcomes and lower long-term costs.
Late-stage cancer diagnoses on the rise
Limited in-person medical services, lockdowns, and fear of contracting COVID-19 prevented many people from receiving the necessary care, including cancer screenings. Routine cancer screenings are integral to detecting cancer early when it is most curable. According to a study published in JAMA Oncology, a publication of the American Medical Association, about 9.4 million cancer screenings were not done during the pandemic [3]. These screening delays can result in disease detection at a more advanced stage when treatment is more complex and costly.
With millions of people missing cancer screenings, COVID-19 will indirectly cause an increase in cancer-related deaths. It is crucial to reinforce the importance of cancer screening and increase access to such testing services to get cancer screenings back on track. Employers can play a vital role in promoting health and preventing diseases, including cancer, by promoting easy access to screening among employees.
How rising cancer claims will impact employers
Cancer-related spending has been on the rise with no signs of slowing down. According to the Business Group on Health’s 2022 annual health benefits survey of large employers, 44% of respondents expected a higher prevalence of late-stage cancers in their employee populations due to delayed preventive screenings [4]. Cancer is among the top three spend categories for high-cost claimants and has overtaken musculoskeletal conditions as the top driver of large companies’ healthcare costs [5]
Annual costs for cancer-related medical services and drugs are projected to reach nearly $246 billion in the U.S. by 2030 [6]. As healthcare costs continue to rise and employers work to attract and retain top talent and drive engagement, it’s necessary to re-think their benefits and how they can better manage high oncology spending while providing their workforce with the care they need. Easy access and more engagement in cancer screenings will be a crucial part of helping employees understand their cancer risk and enabling early detection to control healthcare costs.
How at-home testing can help employers control rising healthcare costs
Routine screening of asymptomatic individuals is the most effective way to reduce employee cancer risk or identify it at an early stage. Although pre-pandemic cancer screenings have rebounded, gaps in screening remain for certain employee populations. LetsGetChecked’s at-home cancer screening tests can reach diverse and dispersed workforces by meeting them where they are with quality care that is easy to use.
Our at-home healthcare solutions reduce structural barriers to screening, so your employees don’t have to worry about clinic hours, transportation issues, or location. Together, we can remove barriers to screening engagement, enabling healthier employees and bottom lines.
References
- https://nebgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/CancerWorkplace_FINAL.pdf
- https://healthactioncouncil.org/getmedia/0f6eb427-7d56-4bc9-9c58-7475ace4d46e/2022-UHC_HAC_WhitePaper-Costly-Conditions_FINAL
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2778916?resultClick=1
- https://www.businessgrouphealth.org/who-we-are/newsroom/press-releases/2023-lehcspds
- https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/benefits/pages/cancer-now-top-driver-of-employer-health-care-costs-survey-shows.aspx
- https://ascopost.com/news/june-2020/national-cost-of-cancer-care-in-the-united-states-expected-to-rise-to-over-246-billion-by-2030
