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 |  | With Health Insurance: Copays + 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | Without Health Insurance: $10,000-$200,000+ |
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Typical costs: | - For patients with health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for ovarian 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. Ovarian cancer treatment typically is covered by health insurance, although some plans may not cover certain drugs or treatments.
- For patients without health insurance, the cost of ovarian cancer treatment can range from $20,000 or more for surgery up to $200,000 or more for treatment with surgery and chemotherapy for advanced cancer.
- A hysterectomy typically costs $10,000-$20,000 or more, but can reach more than $40,000, depending on the extent of the surgery. For example, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children[1] in Hawaii charges almost $40,000, including an uninsured discount, for removal of the uterus, tubes and ovaries for ovarian cancer.
- Ovarian cancer patients posting on a forum[2] at Inspire.com reported chemotherapy costs of $6,000-$16,000 per cycle, with two to six or more cycles required, plus up to $10,000 or more per shot for the drug Neulasta[3] , which is often given with chemotherapy to decrease risk of infection. They report total costs of $100,000 or more per year.
- In one study[4] in Kentucky, published in Current Women's Health Reviews, the average cost of treatment for advanced ovarian cancer was more than $210,000, including hospital charges of more than $127,000, pharmacy charges of almost $60,000 and physician charges of more than $25,000.
Related articles: Chemotherapy, Biopsy, Radiation Therapy, Hysterectomy, Health Insurance
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What should be included: | - Treatment for ovarian cancer commonly involves surgery. Depending on the individual case, the stage of the disease, and whether the patient wants to have children in the future, this surgery[5] might involve removal of one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes, the uterus, nearby lymph nodes, or other tissue.
- In addition to surgery, chemotherapy[6] , usually a combination of drugs administered intravenously, is commonly used to treat advanced ovarian cancer. Drugs may include Carboplatin[7] or Cisplatin[8] and Paclitaxel[9] .
- Radiation[10] is less common, although it can be administered for pain or other symptoms.
- MedicineNet.com offers an overview[11] of treatment for ovarian cancer.
Additional costs: | - Ovarian cancer patients will need regular follow-up doctor visits and screenings.
Discounts: | - Many hospitals give discounts of up to 30% or more to uninsured patients or those who pay cash. For example, Washington Hospital Healthcare System[12] in California offers a 35%discount.
- Some hospitals offer additional discounts for prompt payment. For example, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children[13] , which charges almost $40,000 for surgery for ovarian cancer, drops the price to about $27,000 if the bill is paid in full in 90 days, or to about $23,500 if paid in 30 days.
- Some states offer programs that provide free or discounted cancer treatment. For example, the Delaware Cancer Treatment Program[14] offers two years of free cancer treatment to uninsured Delaware residents who meet certain guidelines, including having a household income of less than 650% of the federal poverty level, or less than $134,225 for a family of four. The Cancer State Aid[15] program in Georgia reimburses cancer treatment facilities for providing care to qualifying uninsured or underinsured patients who have incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines and have been accepted into the program.
- The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition offers a financial assistance locator[16] by zip code or state.
Shopping for ovarian cancer treatment: | - The American Society of Clinical Oncology offers an oncologist locator[17] by state with the option to search for a gynecological cancer specialist. The National Cancer Institute has a search tool[18] for NCI-designated cancer centers.
- WebMD offers a guide to types of cancer specialists[19] , and the National Cancer Institute offers a guide[20] to finding a doctor or cancer treatment facility.
- ClinicalTrials.gov offers a list of clinical trials for ovarian cancer[21] .
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
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External Resources: | - www.kapiolani.org/women-and-children/my-hospital-bill/uninsured-calculator.aspx
- www.inspire.com/groups/ovarian-cancer-national-alliance/discussion/cost-of-chemoth...
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0011616/
- www.benthamscience.com/cwhr/sample/cwhr5-1/D0006W.pdf
- www.medicinenet.com/ovarian_cancer/page8.htm#surgery
- www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-treating-chemothe...
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a695017.html
- www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/cisplatin
- www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601051
- www.medicinenet.com/ovarian_cancer/page10.htm#radiation_therapy
- www.medicinenet.com/ovarian_cancer/page7.htm#treatment
- www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
- www.kapiolani.org/women-and-children/my-hospital-bill/uninsured-calculator.aspx
- dhss.delaware.gov/dph/dpc/catreatment.html
- health.state.ga.us/programs/cancerstateaid/index.asp
- www.cancerfac.org/
- www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer/newly-diagnosed/find-oncologist/find-oncologist-da...
- cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/
- www.webmd.com/cancer/your-cancer-specialists-doctors-you-need-to-know
- www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/doctor-facility
- clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=ovarian+cancer
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