Financial Toxicity is Hurting my Cancer Patients
By LEILA ALI-AKBARIAN MD, MPH
As news of Tom Brokaw’s cancer diagnosis spreads, so does his revelation that his cancer treatments cost nearly $10,000 per day. In spite of this devastating diagnosis, Mr. Brokaw is not taking his financial privilege for granted. He is using his voice to bring attention to the millions of Americans who are unable to afford their cancer treatments.
My patient Phil is among them. At a recent appointment, Phil
mentioned that his wife has asked for divorce. When I inquired, he revealed a
situation so common in oncology, we have a name for it: Financial
Toxicity. This occurs when the burden of medical costs becomes so high,
it worsens health and increases distress.
Phil, at the age of 53, suffers with the same type of bone
cancer as Mr. Brokaw. Phil had to stop working because of treatments and
increasing pain. His wife’s full time job was barely enough to support
them. Even with health insurance, the medical bills were mounting. Many
plans require co-pays of 20 percent or more of total costs, leading to insurmountable
patient debt. Phil’s wife began to panic about their future and her debt
inheritance. In spite of loving her husband, divorce has felt like the only
solution to avoiding financial devastation.
Sadly, as healthcare costs rise, more Americans find themselves in similar situations. The United States spends more on healthcare than any other nation, without better resul...
Source: The Health Care Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Christina Liu Tags: Economics Finance Medical Practice Patients Cancer financial toxicity healthcare costs Leila Ali-Akbarian Oncology Source Type: blogs
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