Rising health care costs leave a growing number of cancer patients - both uninsured or with insurance - without the financial coverage they need, says Dr. Richy Agajanian, M.D. of the Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation.
"Over 11 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with cancer and it is one of the five most costly medical conditions. This forces many patients to make decisions about their health care and cancer treatment based on finances not on what is best for their health," says Dr. Richy Agajanian, M.D. of the Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation.
"Once diagnosed with cancer, whether insured or not, people face significant and sometimes devastating hurdles to receiving timely, affordable treatment in our health care system," he says. "Cancer patients require a lot of services - infusion therapy, medication, surgery, ongoing care from doctors and nurse practitioners. Many don't have insurance, or they aren't reimbursed by their insurance company, so they are forced to do without treatment."
"We spend a lot of time with our patients talking about options based on what they can and can't afford. As doctors, we are constantly juggling what's best for patients versus what they can afford. Whether or not health care reform will help fix this problem remains to be seen."
One in eight people with advanced cancer turned down recommended care because of the cost, according to a new analysis from Kaiser Foundation. And one in four cancer patients or their families said they used up all or most of their savings to pay for treatment.
Financial obstacles cancer patients face include:
Drug costs
Many of the medical advances that allow cancer patients to live longer come at a high cost. New, more effective drugs are being developed all the time, drugs that are extremely effective in cancer treatment. However, some of the newer drugs cost upwards of $10,000 a month, prices most uninsured people can't afford. Even patients who do have insurance often have to pay 20 to 40% of that cost.
Cost of treatment
Just like with drug costs, the cost of cancer is astronomical. Treatment costs, deductibles and co-pays put cancer care out of reach for many. "Every year co-pays increase," says Agajanian. Additionally, he says, managed care is cutting treatments by 20% to 30% with higher co-payments.