Navigating a cancer diagnosis may be one of the hardest challenges an employee faces in their life. Employers have a unique opportunity to support them through these difficult times and also leverage new approaches to manage the total cost of care.
View or download our infographic to see how healthcare transparency is important to helping support employees and their families through the physical, emotional, and financial challenges of cancer while offsetting high treatment costs.
Providing more affordable and accessible cancer care
Why whole-health support is key to reducing costs for employers and employees
Cancer treatments account for significant costs of care
1 in 2 employers say cancer is the #1 driver of health costs1
$8.9 billion is spent on annual oncology claims2
Over 1 in 3 people delay or stop cancer treatments because of the cost3
Additionally, more people aged 18 to 50 are receiving a cancer diagnosis than ever before.4
The financial and mental burden of cancer
2.5x bankruptcy
People with cancer are 2.5x more likely to file for bankruptcy5
2.4x mortality
People with high levels of stress are 2.4x more likely to die from cancer6
26% higher suicide risk
People with cancer are 26% more likely to be at risk to commit suicide7
The impact of cancer care extends to family and loved ones, too: Spouses of cancer patients are 30% more likely to seek mental health services in the first year of diagnosis.8
The silver lining: employers can help
You can balance costs and help offer your employees and their families the right treatment options, including whole-person support to improve health outcomes.
Anthem offers personalized cancer support
It’s now easier for employers to provide more accessible and comprehensive cancer care. With options ranging from preventive care to ongoing treatment support, Anthem is ready with guided and personalized resources every step of the way.
Our approach to whole-person care provides meaningful support at each stage of a person’s health journey.
Improve cost of care
Identify people at risk, then connect them with care before problems arise.
Provide specialized support
Offer peace of mind with a dedicated care team that knows how to navigate the health system.
Share integrated insights
Support personalized provider care through advanced data and predictive analytics.
By leveraging cutting-edge technology — including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning — we can lean into predictive insights to offer personalized recommendations, connecting people to the right providers and support. Timely intervention is often key to a positive prognosis.
Digitally enabled healthcare elevates this support even more, making it accessible wherever and whenever people need it. Virtual care visits and ongoing communication with care providers and specialists are no longer limited by geography and scheduling, so it’s easier to seek help and adhere to care plans.
Build your strategic health offering to help your employees with cancer care needs
Health advocacy support
Adding Total Health Connections to your benefits lets you offer your employees dedicated Advocates who provide end-to-end support through all of life’s challenges.
Our health advocacy model uses one of the industry’s largest data sets to offer personalized, proactive insights, connecting people with the resources they need.
Family Advocates get to know each person’s circumstances and work directly with them to help navigate their health journeys.
Clinical Advocates who specialize in cancer care provide support for each person and their family as they work through diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.
Cancer care support
Make cancer care less challenging by bringing in specialists with years of experience navigating difficult diagnoses. Help people connect with timely interventions to improve health outcomes.
Anthem’s Case Management teams work one-on-one with high-risk employees to improve quality of care while also reducing costs.
Our team coordinates across an employee’s entire care team and offers referrals like behavioral health or nutrition support to close care gaps.
Comprehensive, whole-health care
Often, cancer is not the only concern. Choose the right Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to offer a full range of whole-health options, including mental health support.
Our EAP provides behavioral health support and stress management resources.
Helpful advisors can offer legal information, financial counseling, and work-life balance resources.
Anthem’s EAP also addresses social drivers of health and can help employees find healthier food near them, access transportation, or find senior and child care.
Ready to see how we can help?
Contact your Anthem representative to learn how you can make cancer care more accessible and affordable for your employees.
1 Business Group on Health: 2024 Large Employer Health Care Strategy Survey (accessed January 2024): businessgrouphealth.org.
2 Anthem Large Group Commercial data, 2022.
3 University of Pennsylvania Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics: Medical Red Tape Raises the Odds of Delayed or Missed
Cancer (October 11, 2023), ldi.upenn.edu.
4 The Harvard Gazette: Dramatic rise in cancer in people under 50 (September 8, 2022): news.harvard.edu.
5 National Cancer Institute: Financial Navigation Can Reduce the Financial Toxicity of Cancer Care (April 21, 2023): cancer.gov.
6 Harvard Health Publishing: Prolonged stress may increase the risk of death from cancer (January 1, 2023): health.harvard.edu.
7 JAMA Oncology: Suicide Risk Among Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer in the US, 2000-2016 (January 3, 2023): jamanetwork.com.
8 American Association for Cancer Research: Spouses of Cancer Patients Have Greater Risk of Psychiatric Disorders (February 14, 2023), cancertodaymag.org.