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The Costs of Cancer
Download Report - Costs of Cancer Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and disease in the U.S. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that roughly 1.7 million ... like Medicare and Medicaid, as well as by cancer patients and their families. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions ... specifically on the costs of cancer borne by patients in active treatment as well as survivors. It examines the factors contributing to the cost of cancer care, the type of direct costs patients pay, and the indirect costs associated with cancer. To more fully illustrate what cancer ...
Insurance Disruptions & the Cost of COVID-19
... coverage disruptions are costly because cancer patients like Franklin who have already met their deductible and maximums near the beginning of the year must pay another deductible and reach their new maximum out-of-pocket amount when they start their new insurance plan. And this problem ... who has prostate cancer, already spent $3,000 on his cancer treatment when he lost his job in layoffs related to COVID-19. Starting a new plan cost him another $8,000 to pay his new deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. By the end of the year, Franklin will have spent almost 3 times more ... disruptions aren’t the only cost of COVID-19 for cancer patients. The pandemic has also resulted in delayed or canceled appointments, which can allow a patient’s cancer to grow, leading to higher treatment costs and worse health outcomes. ACS CAN Fights for Solutions ACS CAN is ...
Spikes in Cost Increase the Burden of Affording Cancer Care
... vulnerable to spikes in their health care costs because many expensive diagnostic tests and treatments are scheduled within a short period of time, so cancer patients spend their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum quickly. These costs can be difficult to manage over the course of a year, and most monthly budgets simply can’t afford these large bills. Over the two years that Carla is in treatment for stage III breast cancer, she experiences a spike in cost of over $8,000 in the first two months of each year. While she may be able to afford to spend this much on her care spread over the whole ...
Overall Cancer Costs are Rising
The Problem The U.S. spent approximately $183 billion on cancer-related health care in 2015. This represents a signification portion of the total health care spending in the U.S. And it is expected to keep growing. By 2030 cancer-related health care spending is expected to reach ... These high costs are paid by many people – individual cancer patients and their families, employers, insurance companies and taxpayers. ACS CAN Fights for Solutions ACS CAN wants to ensure that all individuals can afford the right health care services at the right time, no matter where ... policymakers must focus on ensuring affordable access to insurance coverage and health care services, and reducing the overall financial impact of cancer for patients and families. Policymakers can also limit costs of cancer by pursuing policies that promote cancer prevention and early ...
Some Insurance Plans Come with Higher Patient Costs
... helped individuals with pre-existing conditions like cancer access comprehensive health insurance and afford their care. But the law is at risk of being dismantled. The risks of losing ACA protections are clear when you look at current plans that do not have to play by ACA rules. Short-term limited duration plans often ... or other unwelcomed surprises like excluding coverage for a cancer diagnosis as a ‘pre-existing condition.’ For patients with cancer, this can lead to astronomical costs and difficulty affording care. Brian has Stage II lymphoma. When he has a plan that does not include ACA ...
High Deductible Health Plans Cause Extreme Spikes in Cost
The Problem Most patients experience spikes in their health care costs around the time of a cancer diagnosis as they pay their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. For patients on high deductible plans, this spike can mean bills due for several thousands of dollars within one month. High deductibles often cause individuals to delay or forego care due to cost, which means it may take longer to get a cancer diagnosis and begin life-saving care. And the number of people enrolling in high deductible ...
Survivor Views: Surprise Billing and Prescription Cost and Coverage Survey Findings Summary
Overview: The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) established Survivor Views in January 2019. The project has established a cohort of 3,055 cancer patients and survivors diagnosed with and/or treated for cancer within the last five years who are willing to share their opinions ... In October 2019, Survivor Views conducted a cohort survey focused on their experiences accessing and paying for cancer care, including the cost of prescription drugs and their experiences receiving surprise bills. One thousand three hundred and ninety-two cohort members responded to ...
ACS CAN Comments on DACA proposed rule
Access to care for those who are uninsured not only ensures that serious diseases like cancer can be detected and treated earlier but also often means better patient outcomes and less costs to the individual and the larger health care system. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans. However, despite these coverage gains, thirteen years after the law was enacted approximately 31 million people in the United States remain uninsured with data showing that noncitizens are more likely to be uninsured. In 2021, 25% of lawfully present individuals and 46% of undocumented immigrants were uninsured, compared to only 8 percent of U.S. citizens. [1] Deferred Action ...
Survivor Views: Majority of Cancer Patients & Survivors Have or Expect to Have Medical Debt
Overview: The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change, as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As part of this effort, ACS CAN deploys surveys to better understand cancer patient and survivor experiences and perspectives, through our Survivor Views research panel. The panel is a group of cancer patients and survivors who respond to regular surveys and provide important insights to support ACS CAN’s advocacy work at all levels ...
Survivor Views: Majority Less Likely to Get Recommended Screenings if Coverage is Lost
Overview The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change, as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As part of this effort, ACS CAN deploys surveys to better understand cancer patient and survivor experiences and perspectives, through our Survivor Views ... less likely to stay up to date with preventive care if the provision mandating 100% coverage was repealed, resulting in a patient out-of-pocket cost for these services. Fifty-three percent put the dollar amount that would present a barrier to accessing preventive services at less than $200. ...