IMPORTANCE Head and neck cancer (HNC) is more common among socioeconomically disenfranchised individuals, making financial burden particularly relevant. OBJECTIVE To assess the financial burdens of HNC compared with other cancers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this retrospective review of nationally representative, publicly available survey, data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were extracted from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2015. A total of 444 867 adults were surveyed, which extrapolates to a population of 221 503 108 based on the weighted survey design. Data analysis was performed from April 18, 2018, to August 20, 2018. EXPOSURES Of 16 771 patients with cancer surveyed (weighted count of 10 083 586 patients), 489 reported HNC (weighted count of 261 631). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Patients with HNC were compared with patients with other cancers on demographics, income, employment, and health. Within the HNC group, risk factors for total medical expenses and relative out-of-pocket expenses were assessed with regression modeling. Complex sampling methods were accounted for with weighting using balanced repeated replication. RESULTS A total of 16 771 patients (mean [SD] age, 62.3 [18.9] years; 9006 [53.7%] female) with cancer were studied. Compared with patients with other cancers, patients with HNC were more often members of a minority race/ethnicity, male, poor, publicly insured, and less educated, with lower general and mental health status. Median annual medical expenses

Overall and disease-specific survival is poor for oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients, and Black men fare worst. This illustrates the need for long-term cancer survival plans incorporating disparity effects in overall cancer outcomes.

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