Colon Cancer Alliance - high out-of-pocket costs

The Colon Cancer Alliance is committed to providing support and empowerment to those who are affected by colon cancer. This is why we’re actively addressing the patient impact of high out-of-pocket costs for medicine.  Due to increased costs, patients are making decisions about treatment based on financial implication as opposed to selecting the best treatment path to address their current condition.  The Affordable Care Act and Health Insurance Exchanges were intended to address the need for affordable care. The new Avelere study supports the patient stories we often hear. High copays and deductibles can create a financial toxicity which burdens a patient at a time when they need to be focused most on their care. With colon cancer, timely treatment can be of the utmost importance, especially for patients whose cancer is aggressive. When out-of-pocket costs become exorbitant, patients suddenly have to weigh the cost of paying for the drug they need versus quality and quantity of life. These decisions not only impact the individual – it can have a ripple effect throughout a family who are working to collectively make ends meet. As one member of our community puts it: “My test results came back. The news wasn’t good. Now, I’m left trying to figure out where to go from here. Is it worth paying for something that may buy me a few extra months – at most – and leaving a mountain of debt that will take my family years to repay? And although I can no longer work, as a...
Source: PHRMA - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news