Insurance Requirements Create Barriers to Timely Care

​This fact sheet presents findings from interviews, discussions, and studies from the report Barriers to Metastatic Breast Cancer Care in California: A report to the California Breast Cancer Research Program. Specifically, the fact sheet assesses insurance barriers that affect access to care and recommendations on policy solutions that could improve survivors’ understanding of and access to care options for breast cancer that has metastasized.

Summary:

• Getting approvals, or prior authorizations, for treatment from insurance companies was cited as a significant stressor both by patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and by the health care providers who treat them.
• Both patients and providers expressed frustration over the time and energy needed to arrange for necessary prior authorizations and advocate for coverage.
• Specifically, advocates for patients with MBC feel prior authorization and step therapy processes should be improved.

Read the Publications:

• Fact Sheet: Insurance Requirements Create Barriers to Timely Care
• Fact Sheet: Insurance Requirements Create Barriers to Timely Care (Spanish)
• Fact Sheet: Insurance Requirements Create Barriers to Timely Care (Chinese)
• Press Release