Even if he or she has quality health insurance, a typical cancer patient is going to have to shell out some big bucks each year just to get the treatment he or she needs.
According to a relatively recent report, on average, a patient who has an employer-sponsored health plan will pay $6,000 a year out-of-pocket in order to keep up with their cancer treatments. A patient who had to get health insurance through the private market will pay about $10,000 a year. It is important to remember, though, that if a patient has to go out of his or her approved health network to get the treatment he or she needs, then these numbers go up significantly.
Unfortunately, a lot of these costs accrue at the outset of a patient’s diagnosis and treatment, meaning the costs are not spread out and a patient must come up with a way of resolving a large medical bill. Paying off these bills can be particularly difficult if the patient is not able to work either due to the cancer itself or on account of the treatments and their side effects.
While disability benefits will not cover everything, these numbers illustrate why so many Floridians who suffer from cancer and who are not able to return to work in the long-term look to the Social Security Administration’s disability programs for financial help. Along with other government benefits and privileges, getting disability benefits ensures that a cancer patient will have the means to survive financially through his or her crisis. Central Florida residents who are suffering with cancer and who think disability might be right for them are encouraged to contact an experienced Social Security attorney.