New Survey Data Reveals 86% of Organizations Have Seen an Increase in Oncology Costs
A new survey report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans reveals increased U.S. employer spending on cancer/oncology care as well as common steerage techniques used to contain costs.
Cancer Care Spend
The majority (86%) of employers surveyed indicated an increased cancer care spend compared to last year. Of those organizations, cancer care spend increased by a median of 11% since 2024.
When I spoke to Julie Stich, CEBS, Vice President of Content at the International Foundation, she said, that the data shows that costs associated with oncological care have increased over the past year, reflecting a trend of higher health care costs overall. Organizations are continuing to offer the most effective cancer care treatments, while also exploring cost control techniques.
Steerage Techniques
The most popular steerage techniques organizations are using to mitigate cancer care costs and improve patient outcomes include:
- 63%––Nurse navigators
- 58%––Second opinion
- 42%––Centers of excellence
- 24%––Treatment center networks
- 18%––Virtual care clinic vendors
- 17%––Value-based contracts
- 15%––Point-of-care testing.
The goals of using these steerage techniques vary from organization to organization. Of those using steerage techniques, the most common goals are:
- 66%––Outcome improvements
- 59%––Personalized support
- 33%––Negotiated prices
- 27%––Specific fee model use
- 11%––Network scope to fit plan population.
Of those with the goal of specific fee model use (27%), the most popular models used are:
- 50%––Shared-savings/risk-sharing fee model
- 35%––Bundled-rate fee model
- 20%––Pathways fee model
- 20%––Per-procedure/service fee model
- 10%––Fixed, per employee per month fee model.
Survey data reflected in this report include responses from U.S. corporate and single employers. Visit www.ifebp.org/CancerCare2025 for more information and to view the full survey report.
Find more data on cancer/oncology expenses in the International Foundation’s Health Care Costs Pulse Survey: 2026 Cost Trend report.
