"So how much for that surgery to remove my breast and possibly save my life?" Cancer patients seldom ask that or other cost-related treatment questions in an oncologist's office. And, even if they did, many oncologists wouldn't know the answer or would want to separate treatment from expenses.
But a study released earlier this month found that even cancer patients who have health insurance are seeing their expenses mount as deductibles and cost-sharing continue to rise each year. And an earlier study found that about half of all personal bankruptcies are the result of heavy medical debt -- most declared by people with insurance. For those with no insurance, the situation is much more dire.
Such trends are pushing patients, doctors and oncology support staff to talk frankly about costs, make some treatment decisions with expenses in mind and look for government, national and community organizations that may be able to help with some expenses. A Harvard School of Public Health survey two years ago found that 22% of cancer patients with health insurance used up most or all of their savings on cancer-related costs; 5% decided to forgo some care because of costs.
"Recent research shows that the cost of cancer care is increasing at a rate of 15% per year -- nearly three times the rate of increase of overall healthcare costs in the country," says Dr. Richard Schilsky, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. "In addition," he says, "the newest cancer drugs can cost thousands of dollars per month of treatment, and many families report problems paying their cancer care bills."
The organization even recently released an online guide to managing cancer expenses. (Go to www.cancer.net and look under "New.") The guide includes a glossary of cost terminology (such as "co-pay" and "out of network care"), recommended cost-related questions (such as "If I cannot afford this treatment plan, can we consider other treatment options that don't cost as much?" and "Are there ways to change my treatment schedule, if necessary, to work around my job or child care?") and links to organizations that may be able to help with expenses. (See resource box for additional links.)
Doctors shy from topic
