Brain Cancer Treatment Cost

Typical costs:

• For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for brain cancer treatment typically consist of doctor visit, lab and prescription drug copays as well as coinsurance of 10%-50% for surgery and other procedures, which can easily reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Brain cancer treatment typically is covered by health insurance, although some plans might not cover individual drugs or treatments.
• According to the American Cancer Society^[2] , the cost of cancer treatment depends on the type and duration of treatment, and whether the patient is treated at home, in a clinic, in the doctor's office, or in the hospital.
• A comprehensive treatment plan^[3] may include a range of therapies, but it typically involves one or more of the following options: surgery which can cost $50,000 -$150,000 or more; chemotherapy, which can cost $10,000 -$200,000 or more; radiation therapy, which can cost $10,000-$50,000 or more and brachytherapy^[4] , a type of radiotherapy in which a radiation source is placed inside or next to a tumor, which can cost $25,000 or more.
• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality^[5] reports that patients with brain cancer are typically hospitalized for between six and seven days at a cost of $19,400 total, or $2,900 per day.
• According to the National Brain Tumor Foundation^[6] , drugs to treat brain cancer can cost more than $1,000 for a one-month supply. For instance, 250 mg of the brain cancer drug Temozolomide^[7] can cost more than $1,500 a month.
• If it appears unlikely that the condition can be cured, a doctor may recommend that a patient avoid harsh treatments and opt for supportive care instead. One recent study^[8] found that patients who received palliative care incurred, on average, $6,900 less in hospital costs during a given admission than patients who received usual care. Most insurance plans cover palliative care.

• Patients who experience symptoms^[9] may undergo a series of tests to detect a brain tumor, including a neurological exam, a biopsy and imaging tests such as an MRI. If it's a secondary cancer, a doctor may recommend tests to determine its origins.
• According to the Mayo Clinic, a patient and doctor develop a cancer treatment plan^[10] plan based on a number of factors, including overall health, the type and stage of cancer, and patient preferences.

• Following brain surgery, a patient may need physical therapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy.
• According to the Mayo Clinic^[11] , while no alternative treatments have been found to cure brain tumors, some, such as acupuncture and hypnosis may help a patient to cope with the side effects of the illness or treatment.

• Many hospitals offer discounts of 30% of more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. At St. Joseph Hospital^[12] in Orange, CA, for example, patients without health insurance may qualify for a 45% discount off billed charges. The hospital also offers an additional 10% discount if payment is made within 10 days of the patient receiving the bill.
• Under the federal government's Hill-Burton program^[13] low-income patients may qualify for free or low-cost services.

• Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted oral chemotherapy access laws^[14] that require private health plans to cover cancer drugs, in the same way they would cover traditional intravenous infusion therapy.
• The National Cancer Institute offers a list of resources^[15] for patients who need financial assistance.
• The American Academy of Neurology offers a doctor locator^[16] , which allows patients and their families to search for neurologists who specialize in brain tumors.

1.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/braincancer.html
2.  www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/002813-pdf.pdf
3.  www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/brain-cancer-000024.htm#ixzz26g8OjQML
4.  www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Brachytherapy.aspx
5.  www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb125.jsp
6.  www.braintumor.org/assets/docs/Nobody_Can_Afford_a_Brain_Tumor.pdf
7.  www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/temozolomide
8.  content.healthaffairs.org/content/30/3/454
9.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/brain-tumor/DS00281/DSECTION=symptoms
10.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/brain-tumor/DS00281/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
11.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/brain-tumor/DS00281/DSECTION=alternative-medicine
12.  www.sjo.org/For-Patients/Your-Hospital-Bill/Self-Pay-Discount-Program.aspx
13.  www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/hillburton/
14.  capsules.kaiserhealthnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Oral-Chemo-Access-Map-May-2012...
15.  www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/financial-legal#Getting+Financial+Help+for+Healthcare
16.  patients.aan.com/findaneurologist/

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