Insurers Push to Rein In Spending on Cancer Care

[dflprincess]

9. When my brother was near the end with his cancer his oncologist wanted to try one last ditch chemo

treatment. A very expensive treatment that, at best might buy him a little time. It all depended on whether or not the insurance company would pay for it. This was an FDA approved drug, not experimental treatment.

Fortunately he was insured by one of the non-profits that operate in Minnesota. Upon seeing who his insurer was, his doctor's assistant told him not to worry about coverage - it was only the for-profits they had to fight with for this kind of drug.

So he got the chemo - it didn't buy him much time - but he tolerated it well and had some really good days - he was even able to make to a couple Twins games where, thanks to the "herbal" medicine he was also using he felt up to eating all his favorite baseball game foods. The fun he was able to have in his last few weeks before the cancer overwhelmed his system made the cost of the drug worthwhile (IMHO).

If doctors can only stick to standardized treatments - how will advancements ever be made?