OBJECTIVES: To examine chemotherapy treatment patterns, healthcare costs, and mortality of lung cancer patients in Taiwan. METHODS: This study analyzed medical and pharmacy claims from a random sample of one million taken from all beneficiaries covered under Taiwan’s national health insurance in 2000. Newly diagnosed lung cancer patients between 2000 and 2008 (first observed diagnosis as the index date) were identified based on medical claims with associated diagnoses. Patients were followed until death or the end of 2008. Per patient per month [PPPM] total healthcare costs (in USD) and median survival were reported. Chemotherapy treatment patterns during the follow-up were examined. RESULTS: This study included 3,343 lung cancer patients (mean age: 67.1 years; 34.5% female; 35.4% secondary lung cancer). Median survival was 8.1 months. PPPM costs were $2,322 USD (interquartile range $450-$2,902). Lifetime costs from diagnosis among those who died during the study period were $12,788 USD (interquartile range $2,674-$17,546). Of the 1,633 patients who received chemotherapy during the follow-up, 375 received only one chemotherapy agent (gemcitabine 35.7%, vinorelbine 20.5%, platinum-based agents 20.3%, UFUR 8.3%, taxanes 7.7%, etoposide 7.5%). Close to three quarters (74.8%) of treated patients received combination therapy with platinum-based agents. Of 1,221 patients treated with platinum-based combination therapy, the therapy most commonly used includes gemcitabine (37.5%), taxanes (21.5%), and vinorelbine (18.2%), while 21.4% of patients received two or more other agents. We observed longer median survival in patients with a higher number of chemotherapy agents received. CONCLUSIONS: Lung cancer patients in Taiwan incurred considerable healthcare costs after diagnosis. More than half of patients were treated with chemotherapy, in particular with multiple chemotherapy agents. Future research comparing cost-effectiveness among different treatment options is warranted.