The High Cost of Being Proactive
Every October, pink ribbons remind us of the power of early detection, and for good reason: When breast cancer is caught early, the five-year survival rate is 99%.
However, when detection is delayed and disease spreads, that number drops to 31%.
Despite the progress in awareness, affordability remains one of the biggest obstacles to timely screening and diagnosis. For many women, the cost of certainty is still too high
Routine screenings save lives, especially after 40, when the risk rises sharply. Only 4% of breast cancer diagnoses occur in women under 40, which means mammograms become more important with age. But even knowing this, many women wait.
Preventive screenings like annual mammograms are often covered at no cost, but once a scan becomes diagnostic, the cost can jump dramatically. For women on high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), those costs can be prohibitive.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, discovered that women enrolled in HDHPs experienced more delays in breast cancer diagnostic testing, early-stage diagnosis, and chemotherapy initiation, as compared to those on plans with a deductible of $500 or less (UCSD, 2018).
When Price Dictates Care
Cost doesn’t just strain budgets, though; it creates hesitation.Jess Hoffman, Executive Director of Investigative Strategy at Nonfiction Research, has seen this hesitation firsthand:
“I met with women time and time again who were riddled with anxiety not only about how they would afford the care they so desperately needed, but also, about how they would be able to handle a diagnosis.”
These issues are even more prevalent for women of color. Non-Hispanic Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age than women in other racial groups, which means financial and systemic barriers often collide when timely care is most critical.
Moreover, even when women do seek care, they face 18% higher out-of-pocket costs than men (Deloitte). Those numbers add up in both dollars and health outcomes.
The Ripple Effect on Work and Well-Being
Delaying care doesn’t just affect health; it affects livelihoods. A study by Parsley Health found that 43% of women who delayed care reported missing at least one day of work due to health issues.
With women making up more than half of the U.S. workforce, these care delays ripple beyond the individual, impacting productivity, retention, and morale. Employers that help remove financial barriers to care don’t just improve access — they strengthen the health and stability of their teams.
Relief, One Swipe at a Time
For many women, affordability comes down to timing. That’s why Paytient exists: to make it easier for people to get the care they need, when they need it, and pay over time without interest or fees.
“I was hit with some unexpected but necessary testing. I didn’t have the funds on hand to cover my portion. The hospital I was using for the testing took my Paytient card just like any other card! The payment arrangements allow me peace of mind that I can get the treatment I need but not break the bank.” — Laura, Paytient Member
By giving employees a Health Payment Account (HPA), employers help their teams access care across medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, behavioral, and even veterinary care categories, without the fear of an large bill. Instead, each transaction can be split into customizable, manageable payments, putting care back within reach. In fact, in a recent survey, 56% of Paytient card users who received women’s health services said they accessed care they had previously delayed due to cost.
Sponsoring a Paytient HPA unlocks productivity and cost savings, going so far as to drive HDHP adoption by giving employees the confidence to seek care pre-deductible.
“We introduced Paytient to help our HDHP-enrolled employees meet their deductibles. What we didn’t expect was how quickly it would empower them to be proactive with their health — and how much of that spend would come back into our own system. It’s made a real difference, both financially and culturally.” — HRHS Benefits Team
In a healthcare landscape where financial barriers often force women to defer care, Paytient and its partners empower employees by enabling timely access to essential services, like mammograms.
Early Detection Shouldn’t Depend on Your Deductible
Breast cancer makes up roughly 30% of all new female cancer diagnoses annually. For perspective, that’s roughly 316,950 new cases diagnosed in women in 2025.
Behind every one of those numbers is someone who deserves timely, dignified care.
Early detection saves lives, but only if women can afford to take that first step. Paytient helps employers and employees bridge the gap, because no one should have to choose between their budget and their health.
