Closing the Cancer Care Gap: How Employers Can Drive Early Detection and Lower Costs

By Dr. Stephen Palte

• Sep 30, 2025

According to the latest America’s Health Rankings Annual Report, 7.1% of adults in Georgia have previously been diagnosed with cancer, and the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show 59,627 cancer cases were reported in the state in 2022.

 
Costs related to this disease are expected to continue to rise. In fact, 1 in 3 people in the U.S. are affected by cancer, and about 2 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year.

The five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer when caught in its early stages is over 90%, for example. At the most advanced stages, the five-year survival rate for this type of cancer is 13% and treatment may result in long-term side effects.

A cancer diagnosis can impact people’s lives in many ways. Early cancer detection can play a key role in helping to improve health outcomes and lower health care costs.

Designing a health benefits strategy for your workforce that includes enhanced coverage for cancer detection services and support for whole-person health can help employees and their families identify conditions early.

Breast cancer and colorectal cancers are on the rise

The number of breast and colorectal cancer diagnoses in particular has been steadily rising since the mid-2000s. These cancers are also increasingly diagnosed at younger ages.

Since the mid-2000s, the number of women with breast cancer diagnoses has been steadily rising. In fact, breast cancer is now the most common type of cancer in the U.S.

By comparison, colon cancer diagnoses have increased in people aged 18-50 by 15% since 2004. In the same age group, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women.

The impact of cancer on employers

The annual cost of cancer care in the U.S. is expected to rise to $246 billion by 2030, a 34% increase since 2015. According to a recent report from the American Cancer Society, 80% of employers rate cancer as the top driver of their health care costs. 

For employers, cancer can increase direct health care spending and also lead to indirect costs related to productivity and employee absenteeism. 
In fact, 39% of individuals with cancer and survivors say they missed more than three months of work due to their illness. Employees who become caregivers may also face challenges balancing work and caregiving.

Supporting prevention and early cancer detection

Employers can support whole-person health for their workforces by offering cancer support services, encouraging clinically appropriate cancer screenings and detection services, and promoting healthier lifestyles.

As with many other health benefits, education may help improve understanding and usage of cancer detection services and help employees make the most of their health benefits. 

In the United States at least 18% of cancers are related to excess body weight, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition, according to the American Cancer Society. 

Wellness programs may help encourage healthier lifestyle habits such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, and regular exercise, which may help lower the risk of certain cancers and other diseases.

A benefits strategy may help address the impact of cancer 

Around 11% of screening mammograms result in additional diagnostic imaging and 50% of colonoscopies detect polyps and result in more frequent follow-up screenings. 

Offering enhanced cancer detection benefits that go beyond standard preventive care may help lower health care costs for employees and may help improve health outcomes for employees by supporting early diagnosis.

That’s why UnitedHealthcare is expanding cancer detection benefits for eligible commercial members to help support early detection and diagnosis, no matter at what age the procedure is recommended by a network provider.

While we may not be able to prevent all cancers, helping employees access preventive and diagnostic services and encouraging a healthier lifestyle may help drive better outcomes and lower costs.