Abstract
This study aims to examine the cancer patients? hospitalization costs and their financial risk problems. The following three issues will be investigated:
First, according to relevant documents and empirical data, the treatment courses and the accompanying costs of five major cancers (liver cancer, lung cancer, colon and carcinoma of the rectum, stomach cancer, oral cavity cancer) will be explored.
Second, expenditure patterns of treating five major cancers by patient's ages and surviving five years approaching end of life will be analyzed by using a sample of 912 patients.
Third, the financial burden of out-of-pocket expenditure under national health insurance and the supplementary coverage of private health insurance will be look into.
Four major finding of this study are as the following:
First, the hospitalization costs of five major cancers are positively correlated with surviving years and the treatment expenditures for patients aged 45 to 64 years are higher than those of other age group.
Second, the out-of-pocket expenditure account for about 20% of national health insurance payments that may cost up to one million NT dollars, a great financial burden to most of families.
Third, under current private health insurance practice, only a few group insurance policies offers itemized indemnity payment.
Fourth, itemized indemnity payment provides better financial protection to cancer patients than per diem payment.
Four aspects of suggestions can be derived from this study:
First, suggestions to the public:
1. Since the average out-of-pocket expenditure for cancer treatment is about 200,000 NT dollars, and may be up to one million NT dollars, buying private health insurance policy to cover these expenses should be encouraged.
2. Since itemized indemnity policy provides better protector than per diem payment for cancer patients, it should be a better policy choice for the insured.
Second, suggestions to the private health insurance
1. To meet the need of cancer patients, itemized indemnity policies should be
developed.
2. To relieve the burden of financing out-of-pocket expenditure of cancer patients, pre-payment free of interest should be allowed.
Third, suggestions to national health insurance:
1. Payment coverage for treating cancers under current national health insurance should be relieved and adjusted.
2. Procedure of cancer treatment should be standardized and reasonable payment should be offered.
Fourth, suggestions to National Health Administration:
Since treatment costs of cancer patients aged are quite high, cancer for the heath status of the group and taking necessary preventive measures should be the focus of current health promotion policy.
