Cost of Colorectal Cancer Care in Korea: A Prospective Group Study with a 2-year Follow-up

PURPOSE: The incidence of cancer incidence and the rate of mortality are increasing in Korea. Specifically, colorectal cancer in men is one of the most sharply increasing malignancies. The objective of this study was to assess the direct costs for colorectal cancer patients and to identify the factors that influence cancer costs. METHODS: The direct costs of colorectal cancer were examined with a prospective group study at a hospital. The direct costs were assessed every 3 months over a 24-month period through patient interviews, medical records, and claims data. We identified the major factors associated with the cost of colorectal cancer by using a general linear model for the log-transformed data. RESULTS: The group was comprised of 100 patients with colon cancer and 120 patients with rectal cancer. The average costs per patient during the first and the second years after diagnosis were 16,280,000 won and 5,786,000 won respectively. Medical costs accounted for about 68% (11,090,000 won) of the first year's total cost and about 62% (3,602,000 won) of the second year's total cost. National Health Insurance (NHI) paid approximately 50% of the total medical cost. The total cost of colorectal cancer was clearly associated with the stage of the disease at first diagnosis, the cancer site, therapeutic modalities, and recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that colorectal cancer has a heavy financial impact on cancer patients. The total cost of colorectal cancer is clearly associated with the stage of the disease at first diagnosis. Increased efforts in terms of prevention and early detection may assist in reducing the costs.

The Determinants of Purchasing Private Health Insurance in Korean Cancer Patients / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to identify factors determining the purchase of private health insurance under the mandatory National Health Insurance(NHI) system in Korea. METHODS: The data were collected by the National Cancer Center in Korea. It includes cancer patients who were newly diagnosed with stomach (ICD code, C16), lung(C33-C34), liver (C22), colorectal cancer(C18-C20) or breast(C50) cancer. Data were gathered from the hospital Order Communication System (OCS), medical records, and face-to-face interviews, using a structured questionnaire. Clinical, socio-demographic and private health insurance related factors were also gathered. RESULTS: Overall, 43.9% of patients had purchased one or more private health insurance schemes related to cancer, with an average monthly premium of won 65,311 and an average benefit amount of won 19 million. Females, younger aged, high income earners, national health insurers and metropolitan citizens were more likely to purchase private health insurance than their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: About half of Korean people have supplementary private health insurance and their benefits are sufficient to cover the out-of-pocket fees required for cancer treatment, but inequality remains in the purchase of private health insurance. Further studies are needed to investigate the impacts of private health insurance on NHI, and the relationship between cancer patients' burden and benefits.

Effects of Private Health Insurance on Health Care Utilization and Expenditures in Korean Cancer Patients: Focused on 5 Major Cancers in One Cancer Center / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To identify the effects of supplemental private health insurance on health care utilization and expenditure under the mandatory National Health Insurance(NHI) system in Korea. METHODS: The data were collected by the National Cancer Center in Korea. Cancer patients who were newly diagnosed with stomach (ICD code, C16), lung(C33-C34), liver (C22), colorectal cancer(C18-C20) or breast(C50) cancer were included as study subjects. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire from face-to-face interviews, the hospital Order Communication System (OCS) and medical records. Clinical, socio-demographic and private health insurance related factors were also gathered. The differences of health care utilization and expenditure were compared between those who have private health insurance and those who do not using t-test and multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: Individuals with private health insurance spent larger inpatient costs than those without, but no differences were found in utilization in other service such as hospital admissions, hospital days and physician visits. CONCLUSIONS: We found that private health insurance exerts a significant effect on the health care expenditure in inpatient service. These study results can provide a rational basis to plan a national health policy regarding private health insurance. Further studies are needed to investigate the impacts of private health insurance on cancer patients' outcomes and survival rates.