Cost of cancer care varies widely based on who pays the bill

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Cost disparities in chemotherapy drugs can be substantial, reveals a new study from the University of North Carolina and Chapel Hill.

Researchers found uninsured patients with cancer are asked to pay on average 2 times more than Medicare recipients would pay for the same drugs, and that difference can go as high as 43 times more. The uninsured even pay more than those with private insurance.

Cost of doctor visits for cancer patients was also reviewed, and the same discrepancy in costs was seen. For example, uninsured patients were billed $129 to $391, depending on the complexity of the visit; however, Medicare and private insurance paid $65 to $188 and $78 to $246, respectively, for the same visits.

Researchers report that patients with Medicare or private insurance are paying a discounted rate for their health care. Uninsured patients do not have the bargaining power, or may not try to negotiate price on their own.