Studies: Coverage affects cancer diagnosis

WASHINGTON, June 11 (UPI) -- Uninsured people with public health insurance are diagnosed with cancer in later stages more often than privately insured patients, U.S. studies say.

The availability and type of health insurance predict the severity of breast cancer and oral cancer when doctors first diagnose the disease, according to two studies from the journal Cancer released this week.

Uninsured and underinsured patients often have difficulty obtaining adequate and timely care, according to the studies, which found that insurance type outweighed factors like age and gender.

Authors from both studies recommended increasing access to healthcare and targeting screening programs specifically for the uninsured or underinsured to reduce the disparity.