3-Week Series on Financial Toxicity and Cancer. Managing the Cost of Cancer Care: Session #1 Medical Insurance Issues

Description

Amy Allen, L.I.C.S.W., M.S.W., Social Worker and Angela Young, L.S.W., Supervisor, Patient Navigator, both of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, located in Rochester, MN discussed how a cancer diagnosis is an expensive medical condition to treat, and most patients will need ongoing follow-up care after the completion of treatment, often for years. Unfortunately, it is very common for patients to deal with financial stress along this entire journey. The term financial toxicity is used to describe the treatment-related financial strain experienced by patients with cancer, however we know the financial impact goes beyond active treatment. This series of presentations addressed the many factors that can contribute to financial toxicity, identified strategies to manage debts, tips for reducing financial burden and outlined financial resources that can help.

Managing the Cost of Cancer Care: Medical Insurance Issues

Whether you have medical insurance or not, it can affect your risk of financial toxicity. Even with health insurance, the out-of-pocket costs for your cancer care may still be overwhelming. This session reviewed commonly used terms related to medical insurance coverage, described typical reasons why insurance claims may be denied, tips for keeping your medical and insurance “paperwork” organized and identified ways to help you make the most of your insurance coverage.