Impact of insurance status on the medically underserved: A qualitative study on breast cancer

This study provides increasing evidence that the medically underserved are baring heavy access barriers and economic burdens due to their health insurance status. Even among people with health care insurance, many are inadequately covered for a cancer diagnosis and are at risk of a health-related financial burden. For those individuals without any insurance or belong to a minority group, the risk is exponentially greater. For low income women, their lack of insurance or being underinsured may mean missed, delayed or fewer treatment opportunities. Literature and research has clearly provided the consequential events of such actions in the mortality rate for these women. When many of these women finally obtain health care services, it was not quality or equal care. The aim of the study is to develop a culturally sensitive understanding about the social and economic stressors minority women face when diagnosed with breast cancer. The authors conducted a pilot research study exploring the psychosocial needs of medically underserved women diagnosed with breast cancer (N = 36) via focus groups across the state of Tennessee. Content analysis was used as a framework to identify salient themes. The findings suggest financial concerns were paramount to the current sample. Women who had inadequate or no income and inadequate or no health insurance struggled with how to pay for needed services while supporting themselves and their families during treatment. Many women perceived that their treatment would have been different and better if they had adequate insurance or more financial support.