Obviously when you get the diagnosis of cancer you are first having to deal with that and digest it before you even begin to think about costs and what impact financially this will have on you and your family. There will be so many things to put into the plan including: will I be able to work through treatment, will my insurance cover this, can I handle the co-pays, what is I need some type of homecare , what about prescription costs,and what about the transportation costs to get to treatment let alone if you need to stay overnight or meals while you are there? That is just to name a few that pop up immediately.
First and foremost, make a plan and have a system of keeping your medical expenses so you can refer to them as needed or requested. Most institutions have a financial planner or social worker to help. That is probably the best clue I have for you today but there is more. Put your bills in a priority of what has to be paid when and can you talk to the creditors to see if they will work with you on a payment plan and also looke to possible patient assistance programs. All this is overwhelming and sends me right back to the most important part of the information I can give you, find that financial planner or social worker tied into your healthcare facility and bring you bills including medical expenses, utilities, taxes, rent or mortgage and income statements as that is the starting point. This is a challenging time and worrying about finances is the last thing you should need to do. Some costs are hard to estimate and having specialist that works with this everyday will be your saving grace in getting answers. If you can look at putting a budget together to help address these things, it will be a huge help. I will say that I was very fortunate(Blessed) as I didn't see one bill nor did I question what was going on, my husband took the reins and guided us through the financial ins and outs. I know that at one point one of the injections I was receiving was $2,000 a shot and that was 7 years ago. I know that I was just flabbergasted at that as that was only a small part of what I was going through. I jokingly say that I am the Million Dollar woman and I am here and alive. So much comes at you at one time when you are diagnosed, get help and be diligetn about talking notes of who you talked to when and keep all the correspondence and have a filing system. I sugeest one of those divided folders that you can pick up and carry to your next appointment.