On October 30, 2018, the UF Health Cancer Center (UFHCC) hosted Research Day 2018, which aims to promote scholarship and research collaboration through the University of Florida campus. Young-Rock Hong was honored with the UFHCC Poster Winner Award for his research entitled, “Financial Burden of Cancer Care under the Affordable Care Act (ACA): Analysis of MEPS-Experiences with Cancer Survivorship Survey 2011 and 2016”.
In his research, Young-Rock Hong and his co-authors examined the nationally representative cancer survivorship experience survey for 2011 and 2016 to assess the changes in financial burden related to cancer care between pre-and post-ACA implementation. The researchers discovered that the ACA implementation was associated with increased insurance coverage and reduced the uninsured among cancer survivors. However, no significant change in financial burden was assessed, both subjectively and objectively. The impact of ACA on healthcare burden was offset or minimized by increasing premium payments among cancer survivors. In the 5 years of the ACA, the financial burden associated with cancer remained unchanged and considerable in the U.S. Our findings support a shift of cancer care toward a preventive approach and development of affordable disease management.
Congratulations, Young-Rock!