The short answer
Asking about costs early helps you avoid surprises. You can ask your doctor, the billing office, a financial counselor, and your social worker about coverage, payment options, and help that exists. These are conversation starters, not medical or financial advice.
Asking about costs is normal — your care team wants to know if money is a worry.
Ask early, before care begins, so there are fewer surprises.
Ask the billing office about payment plans, reduced rates, and assistance.
Ask your social worker about programs beyond insurance.
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The full explanation.
The simple version
Money can be one of the hardest parts of cancer care to talk about — but asking questions early is one of the most helpful things you can do. Your care team would rather know if costs are a worry, so they can plan with you and point you to help. The questions below are conversation starters, not medical or financial advice.
Questions for your doctor
The National Cancer Institute encourages telling your health care team if the costs of care could be a burden. You might ask:
- What costs should I expect from my care, and when?
- Are there lower-cost options that would work for my treatment?
- Who on the team can help if paying becomes hard?
Your doctors want to know how costs are affecting you, and they can make decisions about treatments and medicines with your concerns in mind. Many patients say that simply sharing these worries makes them feel better.
Questions for the billing office or financial counselor
If you are worried about paying, ask the billing office or a financial counselor about options that make payment more manageable, such as:
- payment plans
- reduced rates
- patient assistance
- help from charities
Asking about payment options early gives you more choices later.
Questions about your insurance
Before care begins, it helps to ask your plan which tests, treatments, and drugs are covered, and what your copays, deductible, and coinsurance will be. Knowing these amounts ahead of time helps you plan.
Questions for your social worker
A hospital social worker can suggest organizations and programs beyond insurance that could help you pay for care. You might ask what local and national resources exist, and how to apply.
Questions if you join a clinical trial
If you take part in a clinical trial, there are two types of costs: patient care costs and research costs. Ask which costs the trial covers and which you might owe, so there are no surprises.
Questions for your employer
If you work at a company or organization, your human resources department may have someone who can answer questions about your insurance plan or point you to more detailed information.
The more your team knows about your situation, the more they can help.
Questions about lowering medicine costs
Medicines can be a large part of the bill, so it is worth asking:
- Is there a generic version of my medicine, which usually costs less?
- Would a different form of the drug cost less?
- Can I use a mail-order pharmacy, or a discount or assistance program?
Questions about travel and daily costs
Costs outside the hospital add up too. You might ask your social worker whether there are programs that help with rides or travel costs, and whether there is help for everyday bills. You can also call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER for referrals to emotional, practical, and financial support.
A note before we begin
This information is educational and is not a substitute for medical, legal, or financial advice. For your own situation, talk with your care team, a financial counselor, or a hospital social worker.
Reviewed sources
This article is based on public information from the National Cancer Institute:
Words to know
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Common questions
▸Is it okay to ask my doctor about costs?
Yes. The National Cancer Institute encourages telling your health care team if costs could be a burden. Your doctors want to know how costs are affecting you, and decisions about treatments and medicines can be made with your concerns in mind. Many patients say it makes them feel better to share these worries.
▸Who besides my doctor can answer cost questions?
The hospital billing office or a financial counselor can explain payment options. A hospital social worker can suggest programs beyond insurance. If you work, your employer's human resources department may answer questions about your plan.
▸What if I am in a clinical trial?
If you take part in a clinical trial, there are two types of costs: patient care costs and research costs. It is worth asking which costs the trial covers and which you may owe.
Questions to ask your doctor
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