Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths. In the United States, the percentage of adults who have ever been diagnosed with cancer is 10.3% in 2024 and cancer is the number two cause of death across all chronic conditions. Cancer is responsible for one in every five reported deaths, or about 600,000 deaths a year. The cost of cancer in the United States was estimated at more than $180 billion in 2015, with a projected increase to $246 billion by 2030. These cost estimates include cancer-attributable costs for medical services and oral prescription drugs. Apart from substantial mortality and morbidity associated with the disease, increasing healthcare utilization and increasing cost of care are a cause of concern for the healthcare industry. Understanding the utilization and cost patterns at the population level will support the development of targeted interventions for members with high oncology-related costs. The Milliman MedInsight® Chronic Conditions Hierarchical Groups (CCHGs) tool offers insights into different utilization and cost trends among cancer patients.
