Cancer Survival Rates Rose for Young Adults After Affordable Care Act
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Oct. 7, 2024 -- During the first decade of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), survival and mortality increased among young adults with cancer who were eligible for dependent care expansion (DCE), according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Cancer.
Michael Roth, M.D., from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and colleagues compared changes in cancer survival and mortality before and after enactment of the ACA DCE for young adults (ages: 12 to 18 years; 19 to 25 years [DCE-eligible]; and 26 to 32 years).
The researchers found that the DCE-eligible cohort was the only age group of the three evaluated that had improvements in both cancer survival and death rate trends after ACA implementation. The inflection year was 2010, the year the ACA was passed, for both survival and deaths. Six years from passage, the relative survival after cancer diagnosis was 2.6 and 3.9 times greater in the DCE-eligible age group than in the younger and older control groups, respectively. Furthermore, the cancer death rate in the DCE-eligible age group improved 2.1 and 1.5 times greater than in the younger and older control age groups, respectively.
"Within just 10 years after its passage, the DCE has allowed young adults with cancer who were covered by it to live longer and more likely be cured," lead author Archie Bleyer, M.D., of the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, said in a statement. "Moreover, other serious physical or mental diseases are likely also having better outcomes since the ACA DCE and should be similarly evaluated, which could strengthen the need even more for ACA and Medicaid coverage and expansion."
Two authors disclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2024
Read this next
Increase in Lead Levels Linked to Worse School Academic Performance
WEDNESDAY, June 4, 2025 -- A 1-unit increase in lead levels is associated with worse academic performance throughout school grades, according to a study published online May 28 in...
Cardiac Deaths Remain Elevated Since 2020
WEDNESDAY, June 4, 2025 -- Cardiac deaths increased substantially starting in 2020, according to a research letter published online May 30 in JAMA Network Open. Jason H. Wasfy...
Parental Education Tied to Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged, Older Adults
WEDNESDAY, June 4, 2025 -- Parental education may protect offspring's cognitive health later in life, according to a study published online May 30 in JAMA Network...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.