Half Of Cancer Patients Can’t Pay For Treatment, Including Famous Actors & Models- The New Data

The survey authors explained in the key findings, “Nearly half of cancer patients and survivors surveyed (47 percent) have had medical debt related to their cancer, and the plurality of those (49 percent) have carried over $5,000 in medical debt.

“Sixty-nine percent have carried this debt for more than a year and over a third (35 percent) have had medical debt related to their cancer for more than three years.”

Meanwhile, whopping 98 percent of patients and survivors included in the survey were insured at the time they obtained their debt. Other key findings were that “those with cancer-related medical debt are three times more likely to be behind on recommended cancer screenings (18 percent vs five percent), 27 percent of those with cancer-related medical debt have gone without adequate food, and 25 percent have skipped or delayed care.”

It was also noted that 49 percent of the patients/survivors saw their credit scores decrease and 30 percent had trouble qualifying for loans. And Black and Hispanic patients and survivors with medical debt are approximately “twice as likely as White respondents to report being denied care due to their debt (13 percent and 14 percent respectively).”

Survey respondents who were Black, were found to be more likely to report being contacted by collections agencies (66 percent), as well as feel harassed by them (44 percent).

Respondents also revealed they approach various approaches to combatting medical debt across the nation, with hopes of police improvements to help minimize the burden of medical finances.

Dr. Maurie Markman, M.D., a nationally renowned cancer expert and the president of medicine and science at City of Hope’s cancer centers in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix, shared his own commentary on this matter on Medscape this week.

The doctor stated in his article, “Very importantly, 98 percent of the people in this survey had medical insurance, so we’re not talking about individuals with no care. This is a population where, if anybody should be okay, this group should be okay because they have insurance.”

The ACS CAN’s survey also explains, “Those with cancer related medical debt often have held multiple forms of debt. Unpaid medical bills due to a health care provider (72percent) and other debt owed directly to a provider such as a payment plan (45 percent) are the most common.

“Thirty percent have had cancer-related debt on a regular consumer credit card while 21 percent have carried debt on a medical credit card. Twenty-two percent have owed friends and family debt borrowed to cover the costs of their cancer care, while 15 percent have used bank loans including installment loans and home equity lines of credit to pay for cancer care.”

Additionally, hospitals are the most common reason why patients are survivors have medical dead. Seventy-six of those with medical debt owe money to a hospital, the survey says.

However, separate from the hospital, 47 percent of patients/survivors have owed money to their oncologist, “followed by other specialists (37 percent), radiation oncologists (26 percent), and chemotherapy providers (19 percent).”

RELATED: Great News for Those Struggling With Unpaid Medical Bills: Repaid Health Debt No Longer Affects Credit Scores 

Dr. Markman, who works with the City of Hope cancer center, also said in his writing, “Our goal is to treat, and where we can, cure, cancer. If we can’t cure, the goal is to extend survival, and where we can’t extend survival to a large extent, the goal is to improve the quality of life of patients.

“Yet, we see here in this survey of more than 1000 patients, this is not a small group, the impact that the cost and method of payment is having on our patients and their families.”

RELATED: Famous Actor Launches Online Funding Appeal To Pay For Cancer– ‘Walking Dead’ Star Erik Jensen, 53, Says Cancer Costs May Put Him in “Precarious Financial Position”

Celebrities Who Created GoFundMe’s For Financial Support When They Were Sick

This recent survey from the ACS CAN reminds us of how even celebrities can fall victim to high medical bills which can be overwhelming and feel impossible to pay off.

For example, “When Calls the Heart” actress Mamie Laverock’s family took to GoFundMe for when she suffered a “medical emergency” after falling five stories from a balcony earlier this year, according to Variety.

Although, Laverock’s situation wasn’t cancer-related, it’s important to understand how any medical emergency can leave someone in medical debt.

“Thank you so much. I don’t even know what to say. My heart is full,” the 20-year-old, known for playing Rosaleen Sullivan in various episodes of the Hallmark Channel series “When Calls the Heart,” said in a statement shared via her GoFundMe page.

“Thank you again. I have no words to describe my gratitude. Love you guys. Thank you. MAMIE.”

Her loved ones, who started the GoFundMe, announced after they received enough help, “The Fund has now closed. Please know how much you helped this family in our hardest circumstances. Thank you for caring.”

Meanwhile, late actress Valerie Harper, who passed away at age 80 back in 2019, also had her family put up a GoFundMe to help with her cancer-related medical bills.

According to People, Harper, known for acting as Rhoda Morgenstern on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” battled leptomeningeal carcinomatosis [is a rare complication of cancer that takes place when cancer cells metastasize to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord], years after fighting lung cancer.

The GoFundMe, which ultimately raised more than $60,500, stated, “Valerie has been grateful over the years for the medical breakthroughs along this difficult journey but insurance doesn’t cover everything. There are unrelenting medical costs on a continuous basis.

“Valerie is currently taking a multitude of medications and chemotherapy drugs as well as going through extreme physical and painful challenges now with around the clock, 24/7 care immediately needed which is not covered by insurance. This is just part of the daily cost that is without a doubt a financial burden that could never be met alone.”

The crowdfunding page strived to obtain enough money for her to received “the best care possible.”

Additionally, “Walking Dead” star Erik Jensen created a GoFundMe amid his battle with stage 4 colorectal cancer.

Jensen, known for playing Dr. Steven Edwards on the popular AMC television drama, launched his GoFundMe page to help with his medical costs.

His page has since raised more than $218,000.

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A post shared by Erik Jensen (@ejensen123)

Olympian Mary Lou Retton also experienced a health scare and ultimately created a fundraiser on another platform called spotfund.

She ended up raising $459,354 of her $50,000 goal.

Regarding Retton’s crowdfunding effort, her daughter McKenna Kelley told USA TODAY Sports how “overwhelmed” she was by the amount of people who donated.

She told the news outlet, “I don’t know if that’s ignorant of us or if that was just sweet. This was not supposed to be a big media thing. … We didn’t even think about what this would turn into. It was simply four daughters who felt helpless.”

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A post shared by Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton)

The Cost of Cancer: The Basics

One of the first questions many people ask themselves after a diagnosis is, how am I going to pay for cancer treatment? Navigating the payment process can, at times, feel more stressful than the treatment itself.

RELATED: “The Cancer Problem That No One’s Talking About”: The Cost of Traveling to Clinical Trials

To help you navigate what can be a particularly stressful and confusing aspect of the cancer experience, SurvivorNet has spoken to doctors, financial experts, and survivors who have been through treatment themselves. They’ve shared their guidance and advice for paying for cancer treatment no matter your financial situation.

RELATED: How Can Doctors Help by Advocating for Patient Care?

Oftentimes, doctors recommend taking time to sort through your finances first and then enlisting the help of a social worker or patient navigator, if possible. These specialists may be employed by the center where you are planning to receive cancer treatment.

“Financial planning in the setting of cancer is the most stressful thing,” Dr. Nina Shah, a hematologist at University of California – San Francisco, tells SurvivorNet.

“It’s right up there with, how long am I going to live? The first thing you have to do is recognize your limitations.”

Dr. Nina Shah explains where to seek help paying for cancer treatment.

Dr. Shah suggests taking stock of your finances and looking for any money that is liquid. Perhaps it was set aside for travel or something similar.

Cancer often affects the whole family. You may end up having to take off work to undergo treatment, and your caregiver whether that’s a spouse, sibling, or friend may need to miss work as well to help you.

Dr. Shah suggests seeking the guidance of a social worker to understand what resources are available to help you cope.

“The best way to … find the resources that are available is to speak with the social worker associated with that [cancer center], because that person usually knows what resources are available and what you can do to access them or apply for them and where you may or may not qualify to receive them,” she says.

Financial Help: Where To Look

When it comes to paying for cancer, there are people specifically designated to help you navigate the process. Social workers and patient navigators often work at cancer centers or hospitals, or other organizations associated with these facilities. These employees can assist people with many aspects of the cancer journey, including navigating medical bills and other finances.

“Patient navigators can function differently at different hospitals,” Dr. Kathie-Ann Joseph, a surgical oncologist at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.

“We have a really wonderful program at [NYU] where we used lay navigators … that pretty much help newly diagnosed cancer patients through the continuum of care.”

These navigators can meet with patients right after the diagnosis and can also:

• Attend appointments
• Provide an assessment for next steps of care
• Assist with housing, transportation or immigration issues
• Help with financial issues
• Provide direction on legal issues

“They really will help them get through these barriers that we think could impact their care,” Dr. Joseph added. “Because the goal is we want them to complete their care.”

Dr. Kathie-Ann Joseph explains how patient navigators can help patients.

Financial Resources to Consider

If you’re having difficulty finding resources or answers about how to get help paying for a disease or cancer you are battling, there are a few options you can consider. You can negotiate payment plans, seek out government assistance programs, or look to advocacy groups.

These are a few of the options cancer patients and their loved ones have to get help covering costs associated with treatment (from drug co-pays to travel assistance):

For Help With Treatment Bills

• The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition can direct patients and their families to available local services.
• Many treatment centers offer extended payment plans and some may offer temporary payment delays, according to the American Cancer Society.
• CancerCare, which connects patients with oncology social workers, may be able to assist with co-pays, transportation, and other costs associated with care.
• The HealthWell Foundation may be able to help uninsured patients pay for treatment.
• The American Cancer Society may be able to link patients and their families up with local resources (they offer a 24/7 helpline).
• The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) works with patients and their insurance companies to resolve issues and may provide direct financial support to some patients.
• The Patient Access Network Foundation may be able to help with out-of-pocket costs associated with cancer treatment.

The Rising Cost Of Medical Bills

The new study on GoFundMe campaigns makes us think about the rising cost of health bills across the United States, how these enormous bills can cause distress, and how patients are coping with their medical debt.

Paying for Cancer – Find Someone Who Will Advocate For You

Also, a recently published Federal Reserve Survey revealed a portion of Americans decided to skip medical treatment in 2022, as a result of the increase in medical bill costs over the past few years.

RELATED: Guide to Financial Planning After a Cancer Diagnosis: Planning Is So Important For Peace of Mind

“Health insurance is one way that people can pay for routine medical expenses and protect against the financial burden of large, unexpected expenses. In 2022, 91% of adults had health insurance, similar to 2021,” the survey says.

“Those without health insurance were more likely to forgo medical treatment because they couldn’t afford it. Among the uninsured, 42% went without medical treatment because they couldn’t afford it, compared to 26% among the insured.”

The also survey found that 28 percent of adults went without some type of medical care in 2022 due to the high costs, which is up from 24 percent in 2021.

“Dental care was the most frequently skipped, followed by visiting a doctor. Some people also reported skipping prescription medicine, follow-up care, or mental health visits,” the findings state. :The increase in this measure may, in part, reflect consumer responses to inflation as medical care is an area where people can save money by cutting back on spending.”

Additionally, a study published this year in JAMA Network Open, concluded that in 2022, about 1 in 5 adults, ages 65 and older, skipped, took fewer prescribed drugs, delayed buying medications, or took another person’s medicine due to cost concerns.

Drug Price Should be Part of Treatment Decision, Says Cleveland Clinic Expert

“Just over half of all respondents (56.5%) used medication cost-coping strategies. Cost-coping strategies included using a copayment card or coupon (30.4%), asking a physician for lower-cost medications (25.6%), shopping around at pharmacies to get a lower price (25.2%), asking a physician for free samples (17.8%), and buying prescriptions from another country (4.8%),” the study’s findings explain.

“Some respondents reported going without basic needs to afford medication (8.5%) or borrowing money or going into debt (4.8%).”

According to the study’s findings, higher levels of general inflation could be a contributing factor to an increase in “cost-related nonadherence” than earlier years. The study notes that general inflation increased from 1.4 percent in January 2021 to 9.1 percent in June 2022.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you are worried about cancer treatment costs, here are some questions you can ask your doctor to kickstart your way to solutions.

• What will my treatment cost?
• Will my medical insurance cover my treatment?
• How long do you expect my cancer treatment to last?
• What options do I have if I can’t afford my medication?
• Can you recommend a financial counselor or navigator to talk with?

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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