The workplace can have a profound effect on a person’s health and well-being, especially when faced with a challenging diagnosis, like cancer. Cancer diagnoses are increasing every year, remaining a leading cause of death in the U.S. This impacts employers, as a person may still be working when they, or a family member, are diagnosed and undergo cancer treatment.
Bridging Gaps For Rising Treatment Costs
Costs for cancer care account for some of the highest health costs for many employers and are the leading cause of long-term disability among employees. Advances in medical treatment have increased both life span and quality of life for individuals with cancer, but treatment can also come with a very steep price tag, with some treatments exceeding $1 million, and cancer-related direct medical costs projected to increase to $246 billion by 2030.
As your lifetime, trusted health partner, insurers like Anthem are committed to improving health for everyone, offering a variety of plans and health and wellness programs to help people optimize their health, reduce their risk of cancer, advocate and find the right treatment for their cancer diagnoses, and support them and their caregivers through the process, treatment, and recovery.
The Employer’s Role In Preventing Cancer
Does your plan motivate, promote, and reward wellness actions that could help with the prevention or early diagnosis of cancer? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers employers resources to support effective, science-based workplace wellness programs. Anthem’s Wellbeing Solutions, for example, gives employees access to tools and programs designed to keep them engaged in their overall wellness and helps them receive the care they need while working toward these goals. Programs like these can help prevent a possible cancer diagnosis by:
- Reducing cancer risks, such as tobacco use, exposure to carcinogens, and stress.
- Encouraging protective factors, such as improving physical activity, nutrition, sleep, finances, and education.
- Increasing access to care, including primary care, dental care, preventive health measures, and cancer screening.
Navigating Cancer Care
Every stage of an individual’s health path is unique, including the moment a cancer journey begins. It can be complex and challenging trying to navigate different doctors, treatments, and caregivers. Employers, insurers, and providers that manage this process well with a priority on empathy and advocacy ensure employees feel supported during one of the most difficult times of their life and can result in increased loyalty, retained talent, experience, and knowledge specific to the company.
Anthem’s Cancer Care Solutions, as an example, connects people to specialized resources that can help raise their quality of care while reducing costs. Cancer Care Navigators are designed to provide extra help for those who are at higher risk for complications.
These educators are trained to understand employees’ diagnosis and unique needs. They can coordinate employees’ care and act as a single point of contact for the patient and their family, their oncologist, and their care team. They also connect to community resources, including transportation to treatment, plus answer questions about treatment, and help prevent avoidable emergency room (ER) or hospital visits.
Financial And Emotional Factors
For employees, cancer is often an additional financial burden. Cancer patients are 71% more likely to have bills in collections, face tax liens and mortgage foreclosure, or experience other financial setbacks, and 2.5 times more likely to declare bankruptcy. As another layer of support, access to an Employee Assistance Program can provide services that include emotional and financial counseling.
Many people want to keep working if they can through treatment, as it can provide much-needed distraction, moral support, and a sense of achievement. The probability of returning to work is significantly and positively correlated with a flexible work schedule during and after cancer treatment. It’s one added way to make recovery easier for employees and families.
Educating employees on support programs offered through your EAP can help with issues like depression and anxiety, coping with emotions, and even managing money issues. All can go a long way in helping caregivers better support their loved one.
A Proactive Approach To Care And Cost
Anthem provides comprehensive healthcare solutions for every stage of health. Cancer care programs with real-time connections between doctors and oncologists improve care and health outcomes. Prioritizing patients’ emotional and physical health leads to increased patient access to excellent care for a better quality of life and lower costs.
From providing a physical or virtual work environment, designing benefit plans, and choosing health and wellness programs, employers’ decisions impact the health of their employees on every level. As your trusted partner in health, we’re here to help employers understand what benefit decisions make the most sense to support employees during challenging times.