59-Year-Old Fla. Woman Was Told She Had Cancer, Then Told She Didn’t Now She Can’t Pay The Bills: Resources to Help

Karpinski initially got two small lumps on her back and shoulder checked out by her dermatologist. A biopsy was taken, and in December 2021, laboratory test results were processed by a local academic hospital.

Karpinski’s dermatologist told her that the results said she had a cancer called B-cell lymphoma, which has been dubbed the most common type of lymphoma in the United States.

Her dermatologist then referred her to a comprehensive cancer center in the area, where she had 17 tubes of blood taken and new biopsies performed.

However, two months later, the new results said there was no cancer and that she didn’t need treatment, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

RELATED: Navigating the Cruel Cost of Cancer: American Cancer Patients Spent More than $21 Billion on Their Cancer Care in 2019, Findings Show

Instead, Karpinski was determined to have a condition called T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, which according to the Mayo Clinic, can “cause rash-like skin redness, slightly raised or scaly round patches on the skin, and, sometimes, skin tumors.”

In addition to racking up expenses associated with the medical testing, Karpinski had begun to prepare for pricey treatment – which is understandable after you are told you have cancer.

Karpinski reportedly signed up for a monthly medical insurance policy of $1,400, more than double what she was previously paying. Additionally, the Moffitt testing and consultation totaled $4,250.

Overall, Karpinski suspects the total she’s paid out of pocket because of this cancer scare was $20,000 which she is now left to figure out how to pay.

Despite these challenges, Karpinski is overall “grateful to be healthy.”

The Rising Cost Of Medical Bills

While it’s not common, sometimes false positive test results do happen. But Judy Karpinski’s story makes us think about the rising cost of health bills in the U.S., how these enormous bills can cause distress, and how patients are coping with their medical debt.

Paying for Cancer Find Someone Who Will Advocate For You

Interestingly enough, a recently published Federal Reserve Survey revealed a portion of Americans decided to skip medical treatment in 2022, due to the rising cost of medical bills over the past few years.

RELATED: Guide to Financial Planning After a Cancer Diagnosis: Planning Is So Important For Peace of Mind

“Health insurance is one way that people can pay for routine medical expenses and protect against the financial burden of large, unexpected expenses. In 2022, 91% of adults had health insurance, similar to 2021,” the survey explains.

“Those without health insurance were more likely to forgo medical treatment because they couldn't afford it. Among the uninsured, 42% went without medical treatment because they couldn't afford it, compared to 26% among the insured.”

The also survey found that 28 percent of adults went without some type of medical care in 2022 due to the high costs, which is up from 24 percent in 2021.

“Dental care was the most frequently skipped, followed by visiting a doctor. Some people also reported skipping prescription medicine, follow-up care, or mental health visits,” the findings state.

“The increase in this measure may, in part, reflect consumer responses to inflation as medical care is an area where people can save money by cutting back on spending.”

Meanwhile, a study published this month in JAMA Network Open, concluded that in 2022, about 1 in 5 adults, ages 65 and older, skipped, took fewer prescribed drugs, delayed buying medications, or took another person’s medicine due to cost concerns.

“Just over half of all respondents (56.5%) used medication cost-coping strategies. Cost-coping strategies included using a copayment card or coupon (30.4%), asking a physician for lower-cost medications (25.6%), shopping around at pharmacies to get a lower price (25.2%), asking a physician for free samples (17.8%), and buying prescriptions from another country (4.8%),” the study’s findings state.

“Some respondents reported going without basic needs to afford medication (8.5%) or borrowing money or going into debt (4.8%).”

According to the study’s findings, higher levels of general inflation could be a contributing factor to an increase in “cost-related nonadherence” than earlier years. The study notes that general inflation increased from 1.4 percent in January 2021 to 9.1 percent in June 2022.

Coping With Medical Bills

Care associated with cancer is expensive, even with assistance from insurance. So it’s understandable why Floridian Judy Karpinski is upset that she owes around $20,000 from her cancer scare.

How to Get Help With the Cancer Bills

Others may lose income as they're unable to work and/or they must pay for childcare while undergoing treatment. Even the cost of parking at the hospital can add an extra burden to any available funds.

Often referred to as the financial toxicity of cancer, it can take a toll on anyone's budget.

A diagnosis can act as motivation to get the necessary finances in order, and to think about our long-term finances. Paul Karger, co-founder and managing partner of TwinFocus, a premier financial advisement firm with offices in Boston and London, spoke with SurvivorNet in an earlier interview about financial advice for cancer patients.

“Interestingly enough the whole world has faced this similar topic with [the COVID-19] pandemic," he said.

“People wake up and realize that whether you have significant means or not, there are still some basic planning items it makes sense to have in place, especially if you have children.”

Paying for Cancer Find Someone Who Will Advocate for You

In terms of paying for treatment, of course, high medical bills can feel overwhelming. While there are resources that may help in some cases, Niv Persaud, managing director at Transition Planning & Guidance LLC, in Atlanta, said there are some other steps those diagnosed with cancer may want to take, including:

• Calculate deductibles and estimated out-of-pocket costs for medical treatment.
• Total the amount you have available in your emergency reserve, health savings account, and flex spending account.
• Tighten your budget by reducing or eliminating non-essential expenses. Look at money spent on shopping, food delivery, entertainment, subscription services, etc.
• Review your payroll deductions and reduce or eliminate those that are optional where it makes sense.
• Some pre-tax deductions will have minimal impact on your take-home pay. Before making any changes, ask your HR contact to calculate the impact.

Should you ever borrow from a retirement plan to pay for treatment? Karger said there are no hard and fast rules.

He told Survivornet, “Personally, I think when you're faced with a life-threatening illness, your health is number one. You do whatever you have to do.”

People struggling to pay for cancer treatment also have a few ways they can get help with paying off medical bills.

Oftentimes, cancer centers have social workers or patient navigators on staff who can assist patients navigate finances, figuring out payment plans, and seeing whether they are eligible for any financial assistance programs.

Below are some examples or programs and organizations that may be able to assist patients with bills associated with cancer treatment:

• The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition can direct patients and their families to available local services.
• Many treatment centers offer extended payment plans and some may offer temporary payment delays, according to the American Cancer Society.
• CancerCare, which connects patients with oncology social workers, may be able to assist with co-pays, transportation, and other costs associated with care.
• The HealthWell Foundation may be able to help uninsured patients pay for treatment.
• The American Cancer Society may be able to link patients and their families up with local resources (they offer a 24/7 helpline).
• The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) works with patients and their insurance companies to resolve issues and may provide direct financial support to some patients.
• The Patient Access Network Foundation may be able to help with out-of-pocket costs associated with cancer treatment.

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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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