Cost of Treatment

Cancer impacts not only a person’s health but also their finances. While advanced cancer treatment can be life-saving, it often comes with high costs. Even with health insurance, many cancer patients face unexpected out-of-pocket medical expenses on an already constrained budget. The financial burden of a cancer diagnosis can lead to anxiety, causing some patients to delay treatment, skip follow-up visits, or stop taking medications. As you can imagine, these actions have a negative effect on their overall health outcomes.

The Toll of Financial Anxiety on Cancer Patients

Cancer treatment costs continue to rise at an alarming rate. The financial burden of cancer treatment can lead to significant hardship for patients. Although these costs do not affect all cancer patients equally, they are still very concerning. According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, 61% of cancer patients struggle with the costs associated with their cancer care, including those who have insurance, such as Medicare. Depending on the insurance plan, it can be unclear how much of the cancer treatments will be covered, making financial planning even harder. This uncertainty about potential costs can be overwhelming for many patients.

Patients trying to manage the cost of cancer treatment often find themselves in a mountain of credit card debt, filing for bankruptcy, losing their homes, dealing with bill collectors, depleting their life savings, and experiencing other financial setbacks.

• Twenty-five percent of cancer patients find themselves facing eviction or foreclosure, or even bankruptcy, due to the cost of cancer care.
• More than 40% of cancer patients spend their entire life savings during their first two years of treatment, according to The American Journal of Medicine.

Independent Cancer Centers Provide Quality, Affordable Care

Receiving affordable cancer care does not mean compromising on quality.

Illinois Cancer Specialists is an independent cancer center that provides the same quality of care as hospital-affiliated oncology departments. We use the same advanced technologies and personalized treatments at a more affordable price.

Cancer care at hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) often costs much more than care offered at independent cancer facilities. A large 2023 study by the Health Care Cost Institute looked at employer-sponsored insurance claims from 2014 to 2020. The study found that while spending on chemotherapy increased for all patients during this time, it rose much more for those treated in Hospital Outpatient Departments (HOPDs) than for those treated in a doctor's office.

Hospital Outpatient Chemo Spending is Higher than Community Cancer Center Costs

Chemotherapy in HOPDs went up nearly 80%, from just under $10,000 to $17,493. Meanwhile, spending for office-based chemotherapy grew by 26%, from $5,377 to $6,775. Out-of-pocket costs also increased more for HOPD treatments, rising 45% compared to a 25% increase for office-based treatments.

Choosing treatment from an independent cancer center can be much more cost-effective.

According to the Community Oncology Alliance, patients may pay up to 50% less for cancer care at independent oncology practices compared to hospital outpatient departments.

Recent studies have shown the benefits of independent oncology practices compared to hospital settings.

Some key findings include:

• Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer experienced chemotherapy costs that were 41% lower at independent cancer centers than at hospitals, while receiving similar or better care.
• Hospitals participating in the 340 B Drug Pricing Program charged privately insured patients up to 6.59 times more for outpatient infusion drugs.
• Patients receiving a checkpoint inhibitor saved over $71,000 per year when switching from a hospital to an independent facility.
• Hospitals charged up to 86.2% more per unit for certain common infusion cancer drugs.

These cost savings not only help financially, but they also provide emotional relief from the cost burden of cancer treatment.

Affordable and Efficient Cancer Treatment With Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is another area of cancer care where costs vary depending on where the patient chooses to receive treatment. A 2022 study found that 16,818 insured cancer patients saved 61.6% on same-day visits and 57.1% on total radiation treatment costs when treated in a physician's office instead of a hospital.

Benefits of Community-Based Cancer Centers Beyond Cost

While managing the costs of cancer care is important, other factors also matter, such as the patient experience and quality of care. At Illinois Cancer Specialists, patients can expect:

• Personalized care: Hospitals often lack the resources to give cancer patients the high level of support and individual attention they need. On the other hand, independent facilities offer a multidisciplinary approach, ensuring comprehensive and compassionate care tailored to the unique needs of each patient.
• The most advanced cancer treatments: Our highly trained, experienced oncologists are committed to providing cancer care using the latest treatment pathways, therapies, and technologies. They actively participate in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the American Society of Hematology (ASH), collaborating with other physicians to provide the best treatment possible.
• Dedicated focus: Independent cancer centers are solely designed to help cancer patients overcome their disease. We work together with the other members of your cancer care team collaboratively to ensure we have developed the best possible personalized treatment plan.

Community Based Cancer Care in the Greater Chicago Area

Illinois Cancer Specialists is an independent practice with multiple locations across Illinois, including Arlington Heights, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Elgin, Hoffman Estates, and Niles. We are the only community oncology practice and cancer research institute in Illinois, offering access to the most advanced cancer treatments, including clinical trials, right here on the greater Chicago area. Find a location nearest you to request an appointment with one of our cancer doctors.