Prevalence and correlates of job and insurance problems among young breast cancer survivors within 18 months of diagnosis

Background The prevalence and correlates of job and insurance problems were examined among a cohort of young U.S. breast cancer survivors during the first 18-months following diagnosis. Methods Participants were 708 women diagnosed at ≤45 years with stage I-III breast cancer. 90% were non-Hispanic white, 76% were married/partnered and 67% had ≥4-year college degree. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression examined the associations between demographic, lifestyle and clinical factors with job and insurance problems. Results 18-months after diagnosis, 56% of participants worked full-time, 16% part-time, 18% were homemakers and/or students, 4.5% were unemployed, and 2.4% were disabled. The majority (86%) had private insurance. Job-related problems were reported by 40% of women, and included believing they could not change jobs for fear of losing health insurance (35.0%), being fired (2.3%), and being demoted, denied promotion or denied wage increases (7.8%). Greater job-related problems were associated with being overweight vs. under/normal weight ( p = 0.006), income <$50,000/per year ( p = 0.01), and working full-time vs. part-time ( p = 0.003). Insurance problems were reported by 27% of women, and included being denied health insurance (2.6%), health insurance increases (4.3%), being denied health benefit payments (14.8%) or denied life insurance (11.4%). Insurance problems were associated with being under/normal weight vs. obese ( p = 0.01), not being on hormone therapy ( p < 0.001), and a tumor size > 5 cm vs. < 2 cm ( p = 0.01). Conclusions Young survivors experienced significant job- and insurance-related issues following diagnosis. To the extent possible, work and insurance concerns should be addressed prior to treatment to inform work expectations and avoid unnecessary insurance difficulties.