Health Care Costs

Cancer care should be evidenced based, integrated with palliative care, and be the model for patient-family centered care. Cancer not only affects the individual but also the family. Studies have shown that when palliative care is introduced at an earlier time in the care of lung cancer, the patients with palliative care as well as their usual oncology care have better quality outcomes and live longer than those without a palliative care provider. I am sure this intervention would also apply to many other types of cancer. So the best way to improve quality and reduce spending is the integration of oncology, primary, and palliative care.

If you are to be in a hospital or surgery center and you will not be using your insurance, you can negotiate with them. You can start by offering 60% of their fee and then settle on a 70% of their fee. You can also negotiate fees with your medical professionals. Many doctors will reduce their fees by 20% if you pay within the first 30 days and may discount their services more if you describe your plight. This info comes straight from docs, nurses, medical professionals, patients and more who I interviewed, and is in my new book, the Take-Charge Patient: How You Can Get The Best Medical Care(out 3/2012). Not trying to push my book but mention it so you know it is credible info.
Here are a couple of websites who help patients find affordable health insurance and free health care.
Patient Advocate Foundation http://www.patientadvocate.org/help4u.php
Coverage For All
http://www.coverageforall.org/
Foundation For Health Coverage Education
http://www.coverageforall.org/
Good luck! Martine

This is a tough one, as the question sounds like "How do I challenge my physician's choices in my care?" The best way to address this is to speak with your physician directly and explain that you are interested in low-cost, or lower-cost forms of care. Before the discussion, however, do some research on your treatments, on other treatments, and on the cost-benefit of each. Ultimately this is a matter of trusting your doc, and if there is ever any question or insecurity you might want to start shopping for another doc or another provider organization. Good luck!