Fair treatment for all cancer patients

In 2010, I went to the doctor with what I thought was the flu — but everything changed when I was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, CML, a cancer that starts in the bone marrow.

Suddenly, my family and I were navigating an unknown and scary world — multiple tests and treatments, countless decisions and most unexpectedly, despite having insurance coverage, wondering how we’d be able to afford the treatments to save my life.

Why? The issue lies in the way that insurance companies designate coverage for different types of cancer treatments. Intravenous, IV, cancer drugs administered in a doctor’s office are considered medical coverage, and patients are typically charged a modest, fixed copay.

Oral anti-cancer medications, however, are covered through pharmaceutical benefits and may require patients to pay a “co-insurance” that equals a percentage of the total cost of the drug. This can mean the cost share passed on to the patient can be much higher — thousands of dollars in some cases.

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