In many cases, people with lung cancer dont have any symptoms.
Sometimes, the cancer is discovered during an imaging test (such as an X-ray) for another condition.
These figures do not represent the out-of-pocket costs to the patient.
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Here are some of the key terms you might encounter.
Often, insurance plans with lower premiums have higher deductibles (and vice versa).
Another form of patient cost-sharing is coinsurance.
Coinsurance is thepercentageof each medical bill that you pay for covered health services.
Often, insurance plans with lower premiums require higher co-payments and coinsurance payments.
What Medicaid covers for lung cancer treatment varies by state.
Eligibility for Medicaidcoverage is retroactive.
Medicaid also covers some transportation expenses, which can help if you have to visit different specialists.
Private Insurance
Private insurance plans are offered through your employer or purchased individually.
The ACS reports that patients with private insurance plans through a large employer often pay the lowest out-of-pocket costs.
Meanwhile, those withhigh-deductible plansthrough a small employer or individual marketplace plan usually have to pay more upfront.
Average Costs
The costs billed to insurance providers and programs such as Medicare can be high.
Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans cover many of the costs associated with nonexperimental lung cancer treatment.
If you have financial concerns about your lung cancer treatment, talk to your oncologist.
Before starting treatment, ask questions about the estimated total cost, payment plans, and financial assistance options.
There may also be out-of-pocket costs associated with clinic visits and other related services.
The cost of radiation varies widely from location to location and from provider to provider.
The patients in the study were covered by Medicare.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung cancer.
2020;29(7):1304-1312. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-1534
Healthcare.gov.Premium.
American Cancer Society.The costs of cancer, 2020 edition.
Facing Hereditary Cancer EMPOWERED.Coverage of cancer treatment - Medicare and Medicaid.
2019;8(1):94-103. doi:10.1002/cam4.1896
CostHelper.Cost of lung cancer treatment.
Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition.Resources for people with cancer.
Arizona Oncology Foundation.Are cancer treatments covered by insurance?
