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Insurance-based Disparities in Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients
- Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Volume 32, Number 3, August 2021
- pp. 1199-1207
- 10.1353/hpu.2021.0126
- Article
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Abstract:
In the United States, uninsurance remains a major barrier in accessing health care for many citizens and residents. Studies have shown that uninsured patients with many cancers and chronic diseases have worse survival than insured patients. A recent study similarly showed that uninsured patients with gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) have significantly shortened survival. While GEP-NETs are indolent tumors with generally favorable prognosis, comprehensive care involves years of surveillance, imaging, and treatment following resection, all of which carry a large financial burden. In this commentary, we expand on these findings as they relate to insurance-based disparities as well as management and policy implications.