Chemo for Ovarian Cancer

[mathwiz1]

My mom was recently detected with Stage 3B of Ovarian Cancer and has to undergo Surgery and 6 rounds of Chemo, both IV & IP. She has no Insurance, hence can anyone provide details on the total cost of Chemo in the US?

Thanks,
Mathwiz1

[asuprpixie]

Oh goodness...I know my total cost with surgery and 6 rounds of chemo cost about $300,000.00. Luckily, I have great insurance and only have had to pay about $2,900 so far. My prayers are with your mom and your family.  Be blessed...

[shewrites]

Seven years ago, my treatment (similar to that of asuprpixie) cost about $100,000 -- that was the negotiated price the insurance company got.  The first thing you need to do is negotiate with the hospital and doctor(s) to see what their best price is.  Point out that it's grossly unfair to make you pay "retail" when the insurance companies get "wholesale."  Try to find out what Medicare pays for the procedures she needs, too.  

I hope that others will come along with ideas for getting insurance (medicaid, state insurance plans, etc.)  and/or other help.  Oh, and there was an article in an AARP publication about people pricing surgeries across the country and choosing the facility with the best price.  You can check the facility's specialties and performance records online, I believe, so it's not too much of a crapshoot.  

One thing you'll want to do is be sure that your mom has a gyne/oncologist do the surgery.  They have years of extra advanced training and deal with ovca all the time.  My gyne/onc got paid less than $1000 for the surgery, which I thought was absurd considering the skill level he offers.  It was the hospital -- and the chemo -- I thought was priced outrageously high.  

You have our sympathy.  Good luck, and let us know how things go.  

[JC145]

If  you don't have insurance, I think the hospital can arrange some serious help .. depending where you live.  In Florida, we have Medicaid and the hospital will help you (Mom) apply.  

Good luck and God Bless.

[jane65]

If your Mom is 65+ years old, medicare will be a big help.

[marie3B]

Contact the American Cancer Society.  They may know of a program for the uninsured.  Marie

[crecco]

Your moms Dr may even be able to help with the names of any organizations in your area that could help. I had no insurance at diagnosis either and my Dr helped to set me up with public aid. The cost for just the standard treatment (carbo/taxol) was 10,000 per treatment and that did not include the Dr fees, the chemos nurse fees or the lab fees. As for the surgery I have no clue.
   Here are a few more places you might check out for assistance: cancercare dot org, needymeds dot org, patientaccessnetwork dot org,
  I hope that this helps and you are able to find some help.
         Chris

[helenl89]

my chemo, tests , dr visits etc ran around 250.000, if not a little more, Had health insurance also cost me around 3000.00. lost track after that mark or so. check into medicare, public aid. definately contact american cancer society. They have people who can guide you through the minagery of people and paperwork.