Estimating Prostate Cancer Care Cost in the US: Findings from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2008-2011

BACKGROUND: To estimate the annual financial burden of prostate cancer care in the US by quantifying the direct cancer care medical costs among prostate cancer patients.

METHODS:  Using the household component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) for the years 2008 to 2011 prevalence of prostate cancer and direct costs were calculated and were extrapolated to the total population to estimate the total annual financial burden of cancer in a given year. Analyses were done through assigning positive person-level weight to the variables for national level estimation.

RESULTS: On an average 2.1 million people suffered from prostate cancer during the study period. Aggregate cost of prostate cancer increased from $ 21.84 billion in 2008 to $ 27.82 billion in 2011. While total OOP costs per-patient decreased from $1,248 in 2008 ($1372 in 2011 prices) to $1,191 in 2011, total costs per-patient increased from $10,786 ($11,858 in 2011 prices) to $12,427 from 2008 to 2011. OOP costs declined at an annual rate of 13.21% while the total direct costs increased at 4.79% annually. Whites and patients older than 74 were more likely to have a cancer diagnosis and most costs were covered by private insurers.

CONCLUSIONS: Due to expected increase in the prostate cancer incidence and survival rate, total cost of prostate cancer is likely to increase rapidly over the next decade. The incidence and survival trend among patients, combined with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, is likely to increase the financial burden of cancer care on taxpayers.