Focus on Healing, Not Bills: How Carrum Health Eases Cancer’s Financial Burden
It’s bad enough to be diagnosed with cancer. Even if treatment goes well, chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery can and will take a toll. For many patients and survivors, there’s a terrible financial burden as well.
A recent survey from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) revealed some startling, sobering facts: over half (51%) of those surveyed ended up with medical debt related to their cancer, despite almost all of them (98%) being insured.
Think about that for a second.
Just about all the cancer patients and survivors were insured, and half of them ended up with debt anyway. It makes you wonder what insurance is even for.
The highest sources of medical debt? None other than the main forms of cancer treatment: chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
The average person, with health insurance, can’t afford to get cancer—or at least can’t afford to treat it.
But, there’s hope. In this article, we’ll delve into the stark reality of the problem and explain how Carrum Health can help.
Medical debt compounds harm
The consequences of such debt are various and disturbing. Here’s just a few of the staggering statistics below:
And that’s not all.
The survey revealed that Black and Hispanic patients and survivors who had debt were about twice as likely to be denied care as their white counterparts, and Black patients were also more likely to be contacted and/or harassed by collections agencies.
People in debt were 3x more likely to be behind on cancer screenings, increasing the chances of relapse.
Almost a third went without healthy food at some point. Almost half suffered mental health problems.
This is a disastrous situation that adds far more than insult to injury. Imagine being lucky enough to survive cancer yet finding that the resulting debt lowers your quality of life significantly. Unfortunately, half of patients and survivors don’t have to imagine this depressing reality.
So what’s the solution?
Consider Carrum Health’s cancer care benefit, which consists of two options.
If you have been diagnosed with a specific cancer, such as breast cancer, you may be eligible for our Treatment Program. In our Treatment Program, we ensure you have a robust treatment plan, customized to your needs, as part of a program that will eliminate or greatly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
For all other cancer diagnoses, we have our Advisory Program, in which we partner with some of the best oncologists in the country. These experts will virtually review your medical records and make sure you’re receiving the best advice and care.
For both programs, you’ll also have access to a team of cancer-specialized coordinators and nurses. These experts are a valuable source of answers about treatments, symptoms, and every aspect of your cancer.
Expert care with financial peace of mind
Insurance companies are clearly not getting the job done for patients, and that’s where the Carrum Health cancer care benefit comes in.
By registering for Carrum Health, you can take the financial stress out of your cancer and focus on getting well.
Carrum Health works with the country’s leading cancer centers to give you the best treatment available, based on the latest research. Every cancer is different, and you’ll receive personalized care based on relevant studies and experience. Not only that, but the cancer care benefit allows you to get a second opinion*, at no additional cost, which can be crucial in cancer treatment.
The difference in how good you feel and how quickly you are in remission can be the right doctor having the right insight into your case, and with the cancer care benefit, you won’t be limited to one doctor’s opinion.
As a member, you’ll have access to teams of experts, including cancer care nurse navigators who can help answer questions and provide virtual support, up to two years following initial treatment. We never leave you on your own.
Our continuity of care will support you in remission and make every effort to keep you there. At the first sign of trouble, you’ll be recommended for follow-up care.
We will do everything in our power to keep you cancer-free.
And, we can’t emphasize enough, we will alleviate the potential financial burden of cancer so you don’t end up as one of the fifty percent weighed down by medical debt. We designed our program to prevent that outcome. Cancer is bad enough. It shouldn’t make you go broke, too. With Carrum Health’s cancer care benefit, you can protect yourself from cancer and debt. We want you to be cancer-free and debt-free, and we work hard to make both happen.
If you’re seeking financial assistance or psychosocial support, register for Carrum Health and connect with one of our care navigators. There are also a number of external resources to help you find available support, such as:
- Cancercare
- Susan G. Komen Breast Care Helpline
- Cancer Support Community
- Patient Advocate Foundation
- FindHelp.org
- Cancer.org
*Second opinions are provided for all cancers at any stage, except non-melanoma skin cancers.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. No material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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