Photo by Petr Kratochvil
U.S. dollars
An analysis of more than 2,000 U.S. patients with blood cancers revealed an average healthcare cost of almost $157,000 in the first year after diagnosis.
Costs were highest for acute leukemia patients—almost triple the average for all blood cancers.
Out-of-pocket (OOP) costs were initially highest for acute leukemia patients. However, over time, OOP costs became highest for patients with multiple myeloma.
These results are included in a report commissioned by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and prepared by the actuarial firm Milliman.
The report is based on data from the Truven Health MarketScan commercial claims databases.
The cost figures are drawn from data for 2,332 patients, ages 18 to 64, who were diagnosed with blood cancer in 2014 and followed through 2016. This includes the following:
- 1,468 patients with lymphoma
- 286 with chronic leukemia
- 282 with multiple myeloma
- 148 with acute leukemia
- 148 with bone marrow disorders (myelodysplastic syndromes).
The average allowed spending—the amount paid by the payer and patient combined—in the first 12 months after diagnosis was:
- $156,845 overall
- $463,414 for acute leukemia
- $213,879 for multiple myeloma
- $133,744 for bone marrow disorders
- $130,545 for lymphoma
- $88,913 for chronic leukemia.
Differences in OOP costs were smaller, although OOP spending was 32% higher for acute leukemia patients than the overall average.
Average OOP costs—which include coinsurance, copay, and deductible—in the first 12 months after diagnosis were:
- $3,877 overall
- $5,147 for acute leukemia
- $4,849 for multiple myeloma
- $3,695 for lymphoma
- $3,480 for chronic leukemia
- $3,336 for bone marrow disorders.
Although OOP costs were initially highest for acute leukemia patients, over time, costs for multiple myeloma patients became the highest.
The average OOP costs in the month of diagnosis were $1,637 for acute leukemia patients and $1,210 for multiple myeloma patients.
The total accumulated OOP costs 3 years after diagnosis were $8,797 for acute leukemia and $9,127 for multiple myeloma. For the other blood cancers, the average 3-year accumulated OOP costs were under $7,800.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society received support from Pfizer, Genentech, and Amgen for this work.