Life throws all kinds of challenges at us, and some of the most trying concerns our health and physical and mental well being. Cancer is one of the toughest diseases a person can endure. Millions around the world either suffer from the tumour (s) or the treatment itself. It is the second-leading cause of death in the world after cardiovascular disease, so it is terrifying for those who have malignant tumours. That is not to say that it is incurable; millions have endured cancer and have gone through chemo and treatment, and survived. The treatment can become quite expensive as there are several different doctors and oncologists that you must meet with and different medications to take. Read on below to learn about the cost of cancer care and treatments.
Not all insurance companies cover all the costs
If you or your loved one have health insurance and discover a malignant tumour, make sure to ask your oncologist about the types of treatment. Then, go to your or their insurance company to know whether or not they cover the costs of the treatment and medication. Not all companies cover the cost of cancer care, and some only cover certain costs, but not all. In this case, you may have to acquire insurance policies from different companies to avoid paying a hefty amount of money for the treatment.
You can get health savings
Given that cancer is not a rare disease, several companies give health savings to those with a cancerous tumour (s). Health savings are different than a health savings account. Health savings are available through websites that find the cheapest place to fit your type of required medication on the off chance that the insurance company does not cover all the fees. According to the medical gurus at USA Rx – Health Savings for Everyone, you can find coupons for medications that you take regularly. These coupons can be used to get a discount on the treatment instead of paying the full price.
You will pay different fees depending on the oncologist
There are different types of oncologists that you may have to meet with. These include a medical oncologist, which will help you treat cancer through chemotherapy, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, and specified oncologist, depending on the location of your tumour. Each of these oncologists has different fees, and in some cases, two different oncologists with the same job can have differing costs. For instance, private hospitals have doctors that require higher fees than a public hospital.
Not because one doctor or medication costs more than the other means that they are any better, some pharmacists, unfortunately, pry on those with cancer to gain more money. The important thing to do is to meet with different doctors to get different opinions on the costs of care and treatment. You can also research doctors in your area, or those a little out of reach if they help reduce the amount of money you or your insurance company has to pay.
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Image credit: Freepik
James Wallace has been an advocate for mental health awareness for years. He holds a master’s degree in counselling from the University of Edinburgh.
