Financial Issues | News

Tips for Managing Medical Bills During Cancer

May 30th 2023

By Kristie L. Kahl

As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE spoke with Monica Fawzy Bryant, Esq., from Triage Cancer, about how to better manage medical bills following a cancer diagnosis.

Understanding the Ins and Outs of Health Insurance After a Cancer Diagnosis

May 30th 2023

As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE spoke with Joanna Fawzy Morales, Esq., from Triage Cancer, about choosing and using health insurance before, during and after a cancer diagnosis.

Knowing Ones Rights When Working After a Cancer Diagnosis

May 30th 2023

By Kristie L. Kahl

As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE spoke with Joanna Fawzy Morales, Esq., from Triage Cancer, about working during a cancer diagnosis and its treatments, and what rights individuals have when it comes to employment and insurance.

How to Prepare for Extended Time off From Work During a Cancer Journey

May 30th 2023

By Kristie L. Kahl

As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE spoke with Joanna Fawzy Morales, Esq., from Triage Cancer, about policies around taking extended time off from work for patients with cancer and their caregivers.

Ways for Patients and Their Loved Ones to Plan Ahead After a Cancer Diagnosis

May 30th 2023

By Kristie L. Kahl

As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE spoke with Monica Fawzy Bryant, Esq.,, from Triage Cancer, about planning ahead after a cancer diagnosis.

Medicaid Expansion Boosts Pancreatic, Gastric Cancer Survival, Thereby Reducing Disparities

May 26th 2023

By Darlene Dobkowski, MA

States that expanded Medicaid had improved survival rates in patients with pancreatic and gastric cancers, with greater improvements in Black patients for some analyses.

Dependent Care Expansion Boosts Survival in AYA Patients With Cancer

May 25th 2023

By Brielle Benyon

Research showed a survival improvement in adolescent and young adult cancer survival after the Dependent Care Expansion allowed patients to be on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26.

The ‘Toxicity of Cancer’ Includes Lifetime Economic, Non-Financial Costs in AYAs

May 22nd 2023

By Darlene Dobkowski, MA

The costs related to a cancer diagnosis go beyond treatment, reflecting the altered participation in the workforce for adolescents and young adults.

Financial Toxicity From Cancer Can Affect Caregivers’ Health

April 24th 2023

By Brielle Benyon

The financial stress from a colorectal cancer diagnosis can negatively impact sleep and pain tolerance in partners of patients with colorectal cancer, recent research showed.

Medicare Patients May See Lower Cancer Drug Costs This Spring

April 13th 2023

By Brielle Benyon

The Inflation Reduction Act is decreasing the out-of-pocket costs for multiple oncology drugs.

The Spectrum of Sharing a Cancer Diagnosis With Employers

April 3rd 2023

By Darlene Dobkowski, MA

Patients with cancer may decide to share their diagnosis with their employer but approaching it in a way that is most comfortable to the patient may make it a more effective conversation.

Educated Patient Webinar: An Overview of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Cancer

March 30th 2023

By Kristie L. Kahl

In this Educated Patient® webinar, CURE® spoke with experts from Allegheny Health Network about addressing disparities in diversity, equity and inclusion in cancer care.

I Received an Unexpected Piece of Mail Regarding a Cancer Bill

February 17th 2023

By Bonnie Annis

Cancer often brings with it bad news, including expensive bills, but one day, a surprise came – one I’ll never forget.

Cancer-Related Unemployment Can Decrease Quality of Life

February 13th 2023

By Colleen Moretti

Patients who are financially struggling due to job loss after a cancer diagnosis may benefit from multidisciplinary back-to-work programs and financial counseling, according to an expert.

Telehealth May Save Patients Over $100 on Average Per Oncology Visit

January 16th 2023

By Brielle Benyon

Virtual oncology visits may lessen the financial toxicity of cancer treatments, according to recent research.

Take Action on Prior Authorization

December 28th 2022

By Martha Carlson

Having cancer care denied or delayed is not a harmless situation when your life is on the line.

Every Day Financial Toxicity: Even With Good Insurance, the Smaller Costs of Cancer Care Add Up

November 1st 2022

By Martha Carlson

When people say. “It’s just $35 to see a specialist,” they miss the entire issue of cancer-related financial toxicity.

How One Nonprofit Aims to Lend a Helpful Paw to Help Patients With Cancer Care for Their Pets

September 20th 2022

By Ryan McDonald

Pets may be like family to some individuals but caring for them during illnesses such as cancer may force some to make a difficult decision.

Cancer-Related Pain Linked to Poor Employment and Financial Outcomes in Survivors

August 4th 2022

By Brielle Benyon

Cancer-related pain, especially when severe, is associated with negative effects on patients’ employment and financial status, recent findings showed.

There Shouldn’t Be a First Class and Economy Class When It Comes to Life-Saving Cancer Treatments

June 24th 2022

By Debbie Legault

I can’t imagine my daughter not getting important cancer treatments because we could not afford it or because insurance denied it. Unfortunately, that is the situation for many patients.

Desperate Measures Have Led Patients With Cancer to Turn to Crowdfunding to Raise Money for Necessary Care

June 21st 2022

By Mark Cantrell

Many patients with cancer who have limited financial resources or high insurance co-pays have started to use crowdfunding campaigns to pay for the daunting bills associated with their treatment and subsequent care.

Record-High Gas Prices ‘Pinching’ the Pockets of Many Patients Traveling Long Distances for Cancer Treatment

March 15th 2022

By Brielle Benyon

As the average price of regular-grade gas in the United States speeds past $4.30 a gallon, many patients with cancer may be wondering how they can afford to get to and from cancer treatments. Luckily, there’s assistance to make travel less expensive.

Socioeconomic Gaps Can Lead to Poorer Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma

March 9th 2022

By Katherine Malmo

Although multiple myeloma survival rates have improved over the past 20 years, the survival gap among socioeconomic groups has widened.

Prior Authorizations for Oral Cancer Drugs May Delay Time Patients Receive Therapy

November 1st 2021

By Darlene Dobkowski, MA

When patients with cancer are faced with receiving a prior authorization from their insurance provider for oral anticancer drugs, it is important that they advocate for themselves, according to an expert.

Cancer’s Hefty Price Tag

October 28th 2021

By Debbie Legault

“The financial burden is another gift that cancer keeps on giving,” writes the mother and caregiver of a young woman with breast cancer.

Facing Financial Toxicity in Cancer Care

October 20th 2021

By Antonia DePace

Talking with a doctor about costly cancer treatments and being frank with health care teams can ease financial distress for patients with cancer.

Educated Patients Are The ‘Key To The Success’ Of Their Cancer Therapy

August 11th 2021

By Colleen Moretti

“More and more (patients and physicians) need to work together in partnership throughout the cancer journey in order to optimize and make the journey the best possible that we can for every single patient,” says an expert from the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Financial Burden of Pediatric Cancer Can Cause ‘Trauma’ and Other Long-Term Effects in Survivors

August 3rd 2021

By Colleen Moretti

Experts urge parents to continue to have conversations with their children about the financial hardships that may occur because of a pediatric cancer diagnosis.

Special Delivery: The Difficulties of Cost and Transportation of Cancer Medications

July 14th 2021

By Marissa Holzer

A woman with metastatic cancer explains how she found a copay assistance program and specialty pharmacy to help manage the cost of pricey medications, though not without a few bumps in the road.

Too Much Money for the Medicine

July 13th 2021

By Katherine Malmo

Newer cancer therapies easily cost upward of $100,000. Why so much? Who sets the prices and what can patients do if they can't afford them?