The Importance of Early Detection
When it comes to women’s health, preventative care and early intervention are two of the most important factors in achieving long-term health. Screening mammograms and pap smears, for example, are recommended every one to three years unless someone has additional risk factors, in which case they may need to be screened more often.
However, whether you need a preventive screening (a scan at regular intervals when you have no symptoms) or a diagnostic scan (a scan your physician might order if you have symptoms), there can be major differences in the out-of-pocket cost. Preventive exams and imaging are usually covered at $0, even if you haven’t yet met your plan’s deductible. Unfortunately, diagnostic scans are often subject to cost-sharing, which means the cost of these tests can run high when people need them most.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, discovered that women enrolled in HDHPs experienced more delays in breast cancer diagnostic testing, early-stage diagnosis, and chemotherapy initiation, as compared to those on plans with a deductible of $500 or less (UCSD, 2018).
The fear of cost alone can be enough to defer care. Jess Hoffman, Executive Director of Investigative Strategy at Nonfiction and the researcher who led the 2024 study, explained, “I met with women time and time again who were riddled with anxiety not only about how they would afford the care they so desperately needed, but also, about how they would be able to handle a diagnosis.”
While preventive imaging is incredibly important, it’s this diagnostic scan that is the most needed, yet it’s the most likely to be delayed or foregone altogether because of cost barriers. The difference between breast cancer being detected in the localized stage, versus a later stage, once it has spread, is a drop in the five-year survival rate from 99% to 31%. Early detection saves lives, and with breast cancer accounting for roughly 30% of all new female cancer diagnoses annually, it’s critical that women are able to get the care they need, as soon as they need it.
The Hidden Cost of Delayed Care
When surveyed, American women said they planned to defer care until their symptoms worsened so badly that the symptoms affected their daily routines. 43% of those women also reported missing at least one day of work recently because of health issues (Parsley Health).
This deferring of care trend can be attributed, in part, to the fact that, excluding maternity care costs, women have 18% more out-of-pocket costs due than men (Deloitte). We often think insurance coverage ensures access to care, but the pre-deductible gap is proving to be a higher cost barrier for women.
With women accounting for over half of our nation’s workforce, the trend of delayed care and increased healthcare costs have negative implications for both productivity and overall health outcomes. This means that the financial burden not only impacts women's well-being—it places strain on employers as the solutions that reduce or eliminate the cost barrier to care are not known to them. With rising health plan premiums and the cost of Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions out of reach for many employers, more firms are embracing a new healthcare payment solution that gives employees time to pay, creating circumstances for them that are more affordable.
The Solution for Employees and Employers
For women using Paytient to pay for healthcare over time, deferred care is less common. In a recent survey, 56% of Paytient card users who received women’s health services said they accessed care they had previously delayed due to cost. Paytient’s Health Payment Account (HPA) allows employees to pay for out-of-pocket expenses over time, providing immediate access to the care they need with the option to design the payment timeline that works best for their budget.
When employers partner with Paytient, employees are given the option to break up expenses across “the big 5” household care categories: Medical, Dental, Vision, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, and Veterinary. After each transaction, they choose a personalized payment plan that fits their budget.
Sponsoring a Paytient HPA unlocks productivity and cost savings as more employees seek care and even embrace lower cost, higher deductible health plans now that they have the confidence to seek care pre-deductible. Having Paytient in the benefits portfolio fosters a healthier, happier, and more engaged workforce. In a healthcare landscape where financial barriers often force women to defer care, Paytient and its partners empower them by enabling timely access to essential services, like mammograms.
Early detection can be the difference in life and death, and cost should never be the deciding factor between the two. Let’s take care of the women who care for so many of us.
Learn more about how Paytient can help you retain employees, advance health equity, and improve health plan optionality—all while helping your team access and afford care.
“I was hit with some unexpected but necessary testing. I didn’t have the funds on hand to cover my portion. The hospital I was using for the testing took my Paytient card just like any other card! The payment arrangements allow me peace of mind that I can get the treatment I need but not break the bank!”
—Laura, Paytient Member; June 2022
Do you know how to perform an at-home breast exam? Find out here.
