When it rains.

One of the cruelest ironies of a cancer diagnosis in younger people is that it necessitates solid health insurance more than ever while also causing some serious disruptions in employment and potentially even employment benefits. This cross-sectional survey of 6069 patients diagnosed with cancer at less than 65 years of age reveals that over one-quarter shell out “catastrophic health expenditures,” meaning they spent more than 10% of their annual family income on out-of-pocket costs and health insurance premiums. This rate is unsurprisingly much higher than counterparts who aren’t facing cancer diagnoses. Comparing rates before and after implementation of the Affordable Care Act, catastrophic health expenditures have slightly decreased with time, but we have a long way to go. | Albright, JAMA Netw Open 2021