Cancer care is a persistent and growing challenge that impacts the workforce and the allocation of healthcare spending. This resource breaks down the current trends in cancer care and the implications for your employer groups.

The following forces are changing cancer care with direct implications for employee benefits:

1. Rising Diagnoses in Younger Populations

In the past decade, the rate of cancer diagnoses has been rising among adults under the age of 50. It is critical for groups to understand that this is no longer just a concern for employees reaching retirement but is a mid-career reality.

2. Innovation in Diagnostics and Treatment

The pace of oncology is notable — what used to be a near-certain death sentence has changed in many cases to a manageable, sometimes curable condition through genomic testing, biomarker-driven therapies, and immunotherapies.

There is significant cost with these advances. Genomic testing adds an upfront diagnostic expense while targeted therapies can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per course.

According to the Business Group on Health (BGH), today:

  • 41% of employers cover immunotherapies
  • 24% cover genomic testing for treatment decisions
  • 44% cover genetic testing based on family history

For employers, the challenge is now how to properly manage coverage of these therapies — ensuring utilization is appropriate, providers are high-quality, and costs are regulated without compromising care.

3. The Productivity and Presenteeism Factor

With the shift in cancer care, it now includes ongoing coverage obligations for employer plans. This means cancer can no longer be thought of as a separate episode of care but planned as an ongoing cost driver. Cancer survivors may require years of follow-up care, imaging, maintenance medications, and rehabilitation services. Additionally, there is a sustained demand for mental health services that many standard benefit plans are not designed to fully address. These shifts create medical and behavioral health implications that employers should acknowledge.

How Employers Can Support Cancer Care

To support employees throughout their cancer journey, employers can consider the following strategies:

  • Expand and incentivize cancer screening coverage to promote early detection and drive higher participation
  • Consider a cancer center of excellence (COE) program to reduce access barriers and steer employees to oncology centers with proven outcomes
  • Ensure appropriate coverage for precision medicine to keep pace with the standard of care
  • Close the gaps in cancer-specific support to meet the complex needs of cancer patients and survivors
  • Use data to drive strategy, measuring impact and making evidence-based adjustments

Click below to read the full benefits insight on how employers can support cancer care in 2026.