CFAC | Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition

Reading Room – Other topics ↓

Overview of Costs

Cancer is an expensive illness. The different kinds of costs faced by people with cancer include:

• Direct medical costs. These include doctors' fees, hospital charges, and medication costs. If you have health insurance, your insurance will cover at least some, but probably not all, of these costs. For example, many people find that their insurance provides only limited coverage for prescription drugs. For people without insurance, the direct medical costs of cancer can be a serious obstacle to obtaining care.
• Non-medical costs. These may include the cost of transportation to and from treatment, over-the-counter medications, child care, home care, and medical devices or supplies. These costs are usually not covered by health insurance and must be paid out of pocket.
• Daily living expenses. These costs — for food, housing, utilities, and so on — may suddenly be more burdensome if the person with cancer or a caregiver needs to stop working.

Next Section: Tips for Taking Control of Your Finances →

 

Reading Room » Other topics...