What is worse: dealing with the physical effects of cancer or dealing with the financial effects? For cancer patients and their families, it is a tough call. The financial burden of cancer is something that was brought up many years ago, but when discussing cancer drugs, it has brought about a term called financial toxicity. Also known as financial distress, financial toxicity is a term used to describe the negative effects of medical care costs in terms of health and financial security.
The Cost of Treatment
The cost of treating cancer varies depending on the type of cancer and chosen treatment. For example, for those with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the cost to use Venclexta is more than $7,500 per month. Treating breast cancer with Nerlynx costs more than $10,600 per month. The cost to treat acute myeloid leukemia with Idhifa is a whopping $25,000 per month. And these figures are based on 2017 pricing, so the cost has likely risen exponentially since them.
A lot of research has been done in this regard, and in short, medical debt often leads to bankruptcy. Cancer patients are about 2.5 times more likely to file for bankruptcy compared to those without cancer. About 3% of cancer patients go bankrupt, and for them, the risk of dying is extremely high. Cancer patients who go bankrupt are almost 80% more likely to die than patients who do not. This can vary even more by type of cancer. Prostate cancer patients who filed for bankruptcy were almost twice as likely to die. Bankrupt colorectal cancer patients were 2.5 times more likely to die. This goes to show that cancer, finances, bankruptcy, and death are all linked in some way.
So, is going through cancer treatment worth it? Even with medical insurance, there are copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums that need to be paid first.
Plus, each cancer patient has different circumstances. Low-income patients, who generally have the lowest financial reserves to begin with, face the highest risk of cancer-associated job loss. Low-income workers often work in unsupportive work environments and have limited access to workplace accommodations and benefits such as paid time off or sick leave. Making matters worse is that many also lack basic health insurance to help them pay for cancer treatment. The irony is that cancer patients who cannot afford to lose their jobs often end up doing so.
Medical Advances
While cancer is not always a death sentence nowadays, thanks to advances in drugs and other medical treatments, it is costly to fight and can leave someone with excessive debt. It is not uncommon to go bankrupt when fighting for one’s health.
Getting Help
A good bankruptcy lawyer can help you deal with your financial issues. Whether you are concerned about medical expenses or other debt, they can help you understand your legal options. In Maryland and many other states, medical debt can be discharged in a bankruptcy filing, leaving you free to focus on your health.