Cost of Chemotherapy
The cost of chemotherapy drugs can differ depending on many factors such as brand, duration, place where it gets administered and how often. For instance, depending on the types of chemotherapy medications used each chemotherapy drug will come with a different price tag. Also the cost of chemotherapy varies with the type of treatment you get it depends on whether you will be taking them in an in-patient or out-patient bases. Also the length of time it takes to use the drug or combination of drugs and how often you need that treatment also determines the cost of chemotherapy.
Although Medicare Part B insurance and most other health insurances help to cover at least a portion of the cost of chemotherapy, private health insurances are now changing their policies and may refuse to pay your cost of chemotherapy. It is very important you do your homework and check with whom you go through before you start your treatment.
But what can be just as frustrating is the fact that many of the new anticancer drugs that have come out are very expensive, and more so if used in combination with other drugs. For example, a common and less expensive chemotherapy drug is called 5-FU. This drug will run you about $100-$300 for an eight week supply. However, if you need to add one of these new anticancer drugs like oxaliplatin or irinotecan, it will increase your cost of chemotherapy to $10,000, and sometimes even more. Not to mention the need for multiple anticancer medications.(Please check with your local hospital or doctor about the 5-FU charges as it may vary)
And what can compound these problems is that there is a considerable time difference between when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration label a drug suitable, and when the insurance will kick in coverage. And for cancer patients that are in the middle of suffering from this disease, time is of the essence. What’s more, even when an insurance company will cover cost of chemotherapy, most often they will have a cap set based over the lifetime of the patient. And finally, for those that only have Medicare, they are stuck paying 20% on their own which we have already shown can be very high indeed.
However, you may be happy to know that if the cost of the chemotherapy drugs are keeping you from getting your treatments, then you should try going to the pharmaceutical companies themselves. Often times they will have programs to help you pay for your medications if you are unable to, and even perhaps supply them free of charge.
Because of these issues that surround insurance company coverage, there are some things that you need to know before you begin treatments. The first thing you should check into is whether or not your insurance company is aware of any new treatments out there. Also, they may have a limit on the types of drugs your doctor can choose from. And they may not pay for drugs that the FDA has just approved, or pay to have you participate in clinical trials.
The most important thing to do in these situations is to not give up. There are different ways to go about getting that denial turned around. For example, you can contact your doctor and have them speak to your insurance company to answer any questions they may have. Or you can have your medical office send them copies of scientific results showing the benefits of a particular drug. And as mentioned above, try going to the main source and contacting the pharmaceutical companies to see what they can do for you.
And don’t forget to contact your local community and your state to see if they have any program that could help. For instance, you should be able to get information about Medicaid from your local social services department to see if you are eligible for coverage. And even as a last resort you can try to sue your insurance company. There have been cases where the justice system will make your insurance company cover your costs. Being prepared for these things will help you in the future.