Getting Help With the Bills & Unpaid Debt
- In 2022, changes were made so that medical debts that have since been paid off will no longer affect your credit score.
- This applies to medical bills that went to collections, but have since been paid off. These repaid debts will be removed from your credit history, rather than remaining on credit reports for up to seven years.
- While this is great and welcomed news, medical bills from cancer treatment are still a major struggle for many.
- There are many resources people can utilize to help pay the bills, such as oncologists who will advocate for their patients (with insurance companies), social workers, patient assistance programs, and foundations.
The keyword here is repaid. Medical bills that are paid off after they've gone to collections won't impact your credit score. These repaid debts will be removed from your credit history, rather than remaining on credit reports for up to seven years. But this doesn't apply to unpaid medical bills.
Read More"As an industry we remain committed to helping drive fair and affordable access to credit for all consumers," the companies' chief executives said in a prepared statement at the time.
Getting Help With the Bills & Unpaid Debt
While these were big positive changes, they don’t stop the medical bills from filling your inbox, especially during cancer treatment, which can be very expensive.
Medical debt is something most cancer patients (and people, really) struggle with. However, there are resources that you may not know about. SurvivorNet has complied this guide to help you get the resources you need to pay the bills and keep them from going to collections.
Advocating Oncologists
It's common for doctors to get on the phone and advocate on your behalf with your insurance company. Many drug companies and clinical trials also offer patient assistance programs.
Paying for Cancer Find Someone Who Will Advocate for You
Dr. Allyson Ocean, a medical oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet she's on the phone with insurance companies nearly every day, trying to make sure her patients can get the treatment they need, and get it paid for.
"My best advice to work around the system of whether or not drugs or tests can be covered for cancer is to make sure you have an advocate in your field working for you," Dr. Ocean said. "The frustrating part for me is that sometimes we even have to educate the insurance companies and say, 'There's a reason why I want to use this medicine.'"
Connect With a Social Worker
Dr. Nina Shah, a hematologist at the University of California San Francisco, previously told SurvivorNet that when it comes to the high costs associated with cancer treatment sometimes called "financial toxicity" it can be helpful for patients to speak with social workers.
How to Get Help With the Cancer Bills
The social workers at your cancer care clinic can help guide you through the various options.
"The best way to look at this and find the resources that are available is to speak with the social worker associated with (your cancer center)," Dr. Shah said. "Because that person usually knows what resources are available and what you can do to access them."
Patient Assistance Programs
Physicians and the navigators who help patients have said that when it comes to the cost of a specific cancer drug or treatment, the assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies can help those of us who can't afford the full cost.
Most big drug companies have programs like these in place. While there may be maximum income thresholds, it can be useful to simply ask. In the case of newer medications, drugmakers often will make exceptions as they want as many people as possible taking their products.
Navigating approval criteria can be very tricky an example of a circumstance in which social workers can be a big help.
Get in Touch With Foundations to Get Help With Bills
There are a number of nonprofit and advocacy organizations that have programs in place to financially support those who can't pay for the costs associated with their care.
One example is the Lazarex Cancer Foundation. This foundation reimburses patients for the costs associated with clinical trial participation. Other organizations such as the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Cancer Support Community may help patients secure lodging and travel for their care.
While it may seem impossible in the moment, just remember that paying off your medical bills is possible, especially with help.
Contributing: Constance Costas
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.