Professor Donald Taylor and coauthors conducted a study to test cancer patients’ preferences around benefits covered by Medicare. The results revealed the importance of quality of life care and an eased financial burden. The participant profile included those 65 and older who have or had cancer within the last five years, are from central North Carolina, and includes their caregivers. Using the CHAT (Choosing Health Plans All Together) methodology, the participants used a system of stickers with an associated monetary value to allocate a limited amount of resources to the benefits they believed Medicare should cover. The results demonstrated an emphasis on palliative care, home-based long-term care, and cash disbursements. The study was informative about what future benefits should be included under Medicare as the nation continues to work towards a financially feasible solution to the growing economic burden of Medicare.
