National Cancer Database analysis of immune checkpoint inhibitors and survival disparities by health insurance coverage among patients with metastatic cancer

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been associated with substantial improvement in median survival among individuals with cancer; however, people without health insurance coverage may be unable to afford ICIs due to their high costs. A serial cross-sectional study using the National Cancer Database found that after the introduction of ICIs, there was a statistically significant widening of the gap in survival outcomes between privately insured and uninsured individuals with a new diagnosis of stage IV melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer. The authors conclude that these results suggest that programs aimed at improving health insurance coverage and providing comprehensive financial assistance to people without coverage may help to mitigate disparities in survival among patients with a new diagnosis of advanced-stage cancer.