Virtual coaching to help childhood cancer survivors understand health insurance and reduce costs
Assessing the effect of virtual navigation interventions to improve health insurance literacy and decrease financial burden: A CCSS randomized trial
Virtual coaching plus a tailored booklet to help childhood cancer survivors aged 21 and older understand health insurance and reduce medical costs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302630 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be randomly assigned to one of three groups that include virtual navigator sessions delivered over Zoom or a digital health insurance booklet tailored for survivors. The navigator program includes four 45-minute sessions that teach insurance terms, costs, how to find coverage, and how to use benefits. The trial is conducted within the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort and will track changes in insurance knowledge, access to care, and out-of-pocket costs. The team will also study how well the program can be delivered and used in real-world settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adult survivors of childhood cancer aged 21 or older who are members of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and who have challenges understanding or affording health insurance.
Not a fit: People who already have stable, comprehensive insurance and a strong understanding of health insurance options may see little benefit from the intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help survivors avoid unexpected medical bills, use their insurance more effectively, and get needed follow-up care.
How similar studies have performed: A prior pilot randomized trial showed the navigator program was feasible, acceptable, and had preliminary signs of improving insurance knowledge.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Elyse R. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Park, Elyse R.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.