The Cancer Chronicles, Part 5
The High Cost Of Cancer
It is Time for Universal Healthcare
Cancer costs in many ways.
First, it costs you life in the form of years. Generally, death comes earlier for those who have had cancer than those who haven’t.
My Mom is 89, relatively healthy, and there is no history of cancer on her side of the family.
On the other hand, my paternal grandmother died of lung cancer, and she never smoked. She was only 64. My father died of cancer, but he made it to 89.
I am 64.
I always thought of cancer as an older person’s disease. When my grandma (“Mam-Maw”) was dying, I saw her as very old. Now I’m the same age. I’ve never felt old, but I’m starting to.
What I knew of cancer was that it is painful and intrusive. It is for many. But mine seems more insidious. You can’t see it unless you consider my now bald head, and I can’t feel it much. I guess that’s the nature of lymphatic cancer. Maybe if left untreated, it would be painful and intrusive.
I have chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness when standing up. Maybe those are side effects of chemo; I’m not sure. All I know is when I stand up, I have to wait a minute before moving.
About Lymphoma/Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
When you are afflicted with an illness of some kind, now that we have it, we tend to do Internet searches for what ails us immediately. You might even do this before you call the doctor.
Lymphatic cancer seems to have many names, and one of them is Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I am in Stage 3 of this disease.
I’ve mainly researched the Internet for lymphoma.
So the other day, I decided to research Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. And who should know better than the American Cancer Society, right? Cancer.org. It didn’t take long to find what I was looking for.
“The overall 5-year relative survival rate for people with NHL is 72%”.
Of course, these numbers are just estimates, but they’re based on data and science.
I’ve not discussed this with my doctor. Right now, I don’t want to know.
But my doctor has said the kind of lymphoma I have tends to recur. The recurrence could be a second type of cancer, of which the website lists eleven.
I am calm on the outside. But, on the inside, I am scared.
The Costs and Insurance
It’s no secret that healthcare costs an arm and a leg in this country. Without some form of insurance, you have to be rich to get sick. Without it, you can quickly be forced into bankruptcy. Mam-Maw’s cancer bankrupted my grandparents.
Or you can just die. The system doesn’t have to treat you if you have no way to pay for it. You can pay before services are rendered. Who has money for that? In most cases, you can’t shop for the care you need other than making sure the provider is in your insurance carrier’s network.
According to fightcancer.org, U.S. cancer patients in 2018 spent $5.6 billion in out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatment. This figure doesn’t even include aftercare — keeping the potential of your cancer recurring can take years or even a lifetime.
From a recent American Cancer Society study, these are some typical costs of different types of cancer, not including aftercare:
- Colo-Rectal Cancer: $38,000
- Breast Cancer-Stage 3-no mastectomy: $223,000
- Prostate Cancer: $100,000
- Pancreatic Cancer: $28,000
- Lung Cancer: $140,000
- Lymphoma/Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma: $98,000
In the study, all patients were covered by employer or private insurance plans or Medicare, but it’s not unusual to pay out-of-pocket up to specific amounts with some programs. The plan you choose dictates how much of the above you’ll pay out-of-pocket.
Medicare covers most people over 65, but you pay premiums for Part B, Part D, and Medigap. They’re almost essential to have, but not everyone can afford them. And that’s where people get into trouble.
Seventeen percent of Texas residents have no insurance, the highest in the nation. Much of that is due to their rejection of the Medicaid expansion.
37% of Americans would NOT be able to cover a one-time unexpected expense of $400 without borrowing money or using a credit card.
I often compare the health system here with that in Canada, as I have several friends that reside there. Medical care in Canada is largely gratis, although you may carry some additional private coverage for extras such as specialists. But they don’t let you go broke and bankrupt. You don’t have to worry about paying medical bills for the rest of your life.
I’m fortunate to have Medicaid (Medium just isn’t paying the bills!) since Covid broke out early in 2020. However, that federally-funded program is due to expire on April 15. So I have six months until I turn 65 and thus eligible for Medicare, but I’m in the middle of treatment. Furthermore, I wouldn’t have typically received Medicaid because I make too much money from Social Security. That is pathetic.
So now I am scrambling for answers to cover six months. I’ll probably have to go with an Obamacare plan, which still carries hefty co-pays. Given my illness, I’ll have to go with the most expensive plan, which will jeopardize my livelihood.
Independent advisors can help answer questions and direct you to other resources you may be eligible for. For example, my particular treatment center has a financial advocacy office for people like me. In addition, drug companies may offer discounts to those who fall into the lower-income category. I hope to learn about other solutions as I go through this process.
Final Words
The point is I shouldn’t have to be going through this process. Nor should anyone else. It is highly stressful, and yes, it keeps me up at night. It’s bad enough to be sick, let alone trying to figure out how you’re going to pay for it.
Our Republican lawmakers don’t give a shit. They’re covered. Why worry about the lower and middle classes where medical care is a burden? Better yet, why are any lower and middle classes voting Republican? They’re in it for themselves while we’re left to fend for ourselves.
And it’s killing us.
Catch up on my wild ride navigating cancer! Here are a couple of stories to get you started.
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