The availability of insurance to long-time survivors of childhood cancer.

The authors identified 100 adults who survived cancer who were diagnosed and treated in childhood between 1945 and 1975. Using standardized interviews, each survivor and matched same-sex sibling was asked about life and health including questions about insurance. Compared with their same-sex siblings, childhood cancer survivors had significantly more difficulty in securing life insurance (P less than 0.001), in having life insurance in force (P less than 0.004), and in obtaining health insurance because of health reasons (P less than 0.001). Survivors were significantly less likely than siblings to be covered by health insurance (P less than 0.04). Cure of childhood cancer has become more common, allowing thousands of survivors to enter adult life. This study suggests that childhood cancer survivors have an unmet need in respect to life and health insurance.