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...
15.  www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping/financial-legal#Getting+Financial+Help+for+Heal...
16.  patients.aan.com/findaneurologist/

Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care		How Much Does Hip Replacement Cost?		How Much Does a Mammogram Cost?		How Much Does Chemotherapy Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

Now that you are full of turkey, here's information on diet plans. The CDC recommends it is more important than ever to get a flu shot this year. Garden all winter long with an indoor greenhouse. It's a good idea to have the furnace checked in the fall, before you need it. Pruning trees before the storm season can help ensure dead branches won't imperil your home.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

shoulder mri Paid: 8000.00 Seriously, 8K for an MRI before all the secret insurance kicks in. I was stuck with a 1200 bill and my insurance is pretty good. This is insane for a 20 minute procedure with no nurse assistance... [more] -stevej45 MRI Cost Garage conversion for larger Den. Old den will become Breakfast room Paid: 21000.00 We removed garage door, put in a 107'X60" window and exterior door. We also framed/sheet rocked where the garage door had been and built a closet... [more] -USAF Retiree's wife Garage Conversion Cost Traffic citation Paid: 500.00 Flat rate... [more] -OL Traffic Ticket Attorney Cost what should have cost under 100 Paid: 399.67 had my back wheel stuck on someone's driveway and I was pulled out as easily as a tractor could have done... [more] -Morgan Moonscar Towing a Car Cost Why is dental insurance stuck in the 80's? Paid: 55000.00 In 1986, I started my first full time Big Girl job, which came with options for medical insurance that ranged from "Volkswagon to Cadillac, and everything in between" which was up to me to choose based on my needs, what I could af... [more] -Frogsoup09 Dental Implants Cost Sticker shock Paid: 389.00 I was totally shocked it came to 385 for one pair of glasses! Usually 220 at costco... [more] -Diana Evans Eyeglasses Cost