National Estimates of Financial Hardship From Medical Bills and Cost-related Medication Nonadherence in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in the United States

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are associated with substantial health care needs. We estimated the national burden and patterns of financial toxicity and its association with unplanned health care utilization in adults with IBD in the United States. Methods: Using the National Health Interview survey (2015), we identified individuals with self-reported IBD and assessed national estimates of financial toxicity across domains of financial hardship due to medical bills, cost-related medication nonadherence (CRN) and adoption of cost-reducing strategies, personal and health-related financial distress (worry about expenses), and health care affordability. We also evaluated the association of financial toxicity with emergency department (ED) utilization. Results: Of the estimated 3.1 million adults with IBD in the United States, 23% reported financial hardships due to medical bills, 16% of patients reported CRN, and 31% reported cost-reducing behaviors. Approximately 62% of patients reported personal and/or health-related financial distress, and 10% of patients deemed health care unaffordable. Prevalence of financial toxicity was substantial even in participants with higher education, with private insurance, and belonging to middle/high-income families, highlighting underinsurance. Inflammatory bowel disease was associated with 1.6 to 2.6 times higher odds of financial toxicity across domains compared with patients without IBD. Presence of any marker of financial toxicity was associated with higher ED utilization. Conclusions: One in 4 adults with IBD experiences financial hardship due to medical bills, and 1 in 6 adults reports cost-related medication nonadherence. These financial determinates of health-especially underinsurance-have important implications in the context of value-based care.

Automated summary

The study reveals that 23% of IBD patients in the US face financial hardship due to medical bills, and 16% exhibit cost-related medication nonadherence. Additionally, 10% of patients consider health care unaffordable. Patients with IBD have a higher risk of financial toxicity, even in those with higher education, private insurance, and higher income households.