My radiation oncology bills are starting to pour in, so it’s time for another personal finance post. To date, I’ve received bills for 11 out of 28 treatments. Here are the #s:
- $26,903 – the grand total my rads. onc. office billed
- $13,756 – the amount that insurance paid
- $13,146 – the amount my rads. onc. office wrote-off
- $0 – my out of pocket costs, because I hit my out-of-pocket max and deductible eons ago.
Of the $26K, $493 was for the initial consultation, $15K was for the treatment setup and design, and $10,826 was the cost for 11 treatments. That’s an average of $984 per treatment, with insurance paying out a fair percentage – an average of $716 per treatment. No wonder they call me when I’m running late to see if I’m coming! (Yes, I know, I’m being cynical. They don’t want me just for my ins. money, I know, I know, they’re there to help.) When all is said and done I predict the total amount billed for my post-mastectomy radiation will be $43.6K with $25.9K paid out and the remainder written-off.
My take home point – with that kind of price tag I’ll be damned if I’m going to feel in the least bit guilty for asking questions and pushing the docs to do stuff so that I can feel better. I get all my cancer treatment at the same practice, and by the time rads is done that treatment will have brought them $60K (including $34.1 K for chemo). And that’s not including my most recent onc. checkup and labs, or a gyn. oncology visit I had with them to screen for ovarian cancer. (I’m happy to report that that coast is completely clear! Knock on wood.)
My other take home point – I’m so incredibly grateful that:
- my insurance rocks (and that thanks is also due to my SIL and our work insurance broker, Montgomery & Graham – Tina and Jim, you are the best!!)
- the lion’s share of my cancer treatment took place in the same calendar year. If treatment had started in Sept. instead of May, I’d be paying two calendar years worth of deductibles and copays back-to-back. As things are, I hope to push off reaching my cap until mid next year. Ah well, dream on, right? But I can try.
- I hit my cap early in the year and that I don’t have to pay copays for each rads visit. For the women who do have high copays, that could run $150/week. Yikes.
4 Comments
February 10, 2009 at 7:59 am
Hi,
First of all, I want you to know that you ladies have my highest respect for dealing with this terrible disease and still continuing to live and
do amazing things. You all rate a Medal of Honor! Also wanted to see what the usual cost of breast cancer treatment would run.
Looks like you(your insurance) got off a lot less than our current bill. My wife had 10 treatments in 1 week (radium) ..the insurance got charged $23,000 per day. total bill $132,000!
With all due respect to the people who provide the treatment..somehow that does not seem right. Am just glad my company pays the premium. Thanks
Bill
February 20, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Anyone know the estimated costs of Brachytherapy. My doctor says I’m a good candidate for that instead of traditional breast radiation. I had a lumpectomy this week.
February 20, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Hi Bill – For that much $ the rads better darn well have worked, right?! Hope your wife recovers well (and you too, it can be hard for the spouse too….)
Brenda – I don’t know the costs of brachytherapy. Is that the 5 day treatment? I’d think that’d be less than the 6 week treatment, but given Bill’s example of the cost for a 1 week treatment, it seems like it depends on the treatment. Pls let us know how it turns out if you have a minute down the road.
Best wishes on it all!
- Amya
October 21, 2009 at 3:24 pm
My physician says brachytherapy (5 day radiation therapy) costs $16,000 — and that Blue Cross covers it in 48 states. Unfortunately, I live in one of the other states…