This is the actual amount I saved on my “out of pocket” cancer medical expenses, this amount would have come directly out of our families pocket had I not found additional programs and resources that help cancer patients with their “out of pocket” cancer related medical expenses.
$4,276.61 is an amazing savings, however I could have saved even more had I known about these money saving programs earlier in my treatment. Many of the programs have time deadlines and many only go retro for a specific period of time, so applying right away is very important, I missed the boat on being able to qualify for some of the programs due to finding out about them so late in my treatment 🙁
I could have saved an additional $2,326.57 had I known about these programs earlier in my treatment 🙁
The following is the actual cost of my treatment, including the contracted amount that my health insurance paid, my “out of pocket” cost, and the amount I saved through discount programs
HOSPITAL BILLS (Including: surgery, pet scan, CT scan, echocardiogram, x-rays, ultrasounds, MRI, lab work, genetic tests, mammogram, etc.)
Actual cost for above hospital services: $54,785.78
Contracted amount my insurance Paid: $10,472.20
My “out of pocket” cost: $1,594.88
Amount I saved on my “out of pocket” cost: $868.66
Amount I actually paid: $726.22
*I was then able to make $30 per month no interest payments on the $726.22
CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS & OTHER CANCER TREATMENT MEDICATIONS: (Including: Evista (hormone blocker), Emend (very expensive anti-nausea drug), Anzemet (chemo drug), Adriamycin (chemo drug), Cytoxan (chemo drug), Taxotere (very expensive chemo drug), Neulasta Injection (very expensive drug to ward off infection).
Actual cost for above chemo/drug expenses: $42,690.19
Contracted amount my insurance paid: $3,489.70
My “out of pocket” cost: $4,402.74
Amount I saved on my “out of pocket” cost: $2,076.17
Amount I actually paid: $2,326.57
RADIATION ONCOLOGY (Includes: 7 weeks of daily (5 days per week) radiation)
Actual cost for above radiation oncology: $30,671.00
Contracted amount my insurance Paid: $8,444.90
My “out of pocket” cost: $1,448.89
Amount I saved on my “out of pocket” cost: $829.46
Amount I actually paid: $619.43
*I was then able to make $50 per month no interest payments on the $619.43
MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT (Includes: all miles driven to each of my 87 medical related appointments during my 10-months of cancer treatment)
Additional amount I saved on my “out of pocket” cost: $152.32
WIGS (Includes: Two wigs, lots of head scarves, several “bedtime” night caps, and several winter beanies)
Total actual cost: $368.00
Amount my insurance Paid: $350.00
My “out of pocket” cost: $18.00
Amount I actually paid: $18.00
*I included the wigs in this list because I had to actually “bill” my health insurance myself on a claim form because the wig shop is not a provider who normally deals with health insurance, however if your insurance offers a benefit for “Head Prosthesis” due to medical hair loss then you can bill the wigs to your insurance. You would request a claim form from your health insurance company and then note on the claim “Hair loss due to chemotherapy”, the billing code I used was #561.