Patients of Medicare age have favorable outcomes when it comes to head and neck cancer, say new study findings published in Head & Neck. The researchers of the study write that their findings suggest many patients are waiting to seek cancer diagnosis or treatment until becoming eligible for Medicare. The researchers noted that their study assumed patients with HSNCC at 60 to 64 years were similar to patients aged 65 years except for Medicare eligibility. Compared with patients aged 60 to 64 who were either on Medicaid or uninsured, those aged 65 years were less likely to receive a later-stage diagnosis. ReferenceSmith J, Jayanth P, Hong S, Simpson M, Massa S. The “Medicare effect” on head and neck cancer diagnosis and survival.

Source: New York Times June 02, 2023 11:07 UTC