title: Health care crisis: the head and neck cancer patient and affordable health insurance.
abstract: In an evaluation of 30 patients with head and neck cancer, we found that 14 (46%) were uninsured at the time of diagnosis and 15 (50%) had yearly incomes below the poverty level. Tobacco and alcohol were identified as risk factors in 25 (83%) of the patients. These patients spent an average of $2,781 on carcinogenic agents yearly, increasing the risk of cancer 55 times that of the unexposed population, whereas the cost of a health insurance policy was $2,321 per year. To remedy the disparities and incongruities of this situation, we advocate patient education to influence behavioral change in these high-risk groups, a lowering of insurance rates, legal reform, and continued physician activism toward managing the current health care crisis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Nuss
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010819:Physician's Role; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015996:Survival Rate