In a recent conversation, a friend shared with me some information about a piece of legislation that was passed last year in California that will have an impact on those looking for help paying for their oral anti-cancer medications. While intravenous cancer drugs are covered under our healthcare insurance policies, medications taken by mouth are not and unless you are fortunate enough to have drug coverage, you might find yourself with a prescription that is so expensive that you can’t afford it. Even if you do have coverage, the out-of-pocket co-pay may be way beyond an amount that you are able to afford.
It is information like this and learning about the work of so many organizations that are making changes and affecting improvements for all of us that gives us hope for the future that we will see an end to breast cancer.
A great explanation of this legislative piece has been included here for your review but there are a few key points that I would like to mention. Studies have indicated that 70% of prescriptions for oral anti-cancer drugs are for women with breast cancer but because of the high cost of these oral medications, 1 in 4 patients end up abandoning this treatment that is often their best chance to beat cancer. From my own experience, I was prescribed an oral medication that was taken daily for 5 years. And with the new studies and research, some patients are now being prescribed a daily medication for 10 years.
Now when you take into consideration that the majority of women who get this type of cancer that is treated with hormone therapy in pill form are older and may be on a low or fixed income, it is not surprising that they don’t have the money to afford this care. This means that, in essence, you are taking away their chances of living longer, cancer-free lives.
However, now starting on January 1, 2015, the legislation limits a patient’s out-of-pocket costs to $100 per filled prescription for covered oral anti-cancer medications. Although this may still be prohibitive for some, there are organizations that help women who find themselves in this situation. If the cost of the drugs to the patients is lower than in the past, this allows for groups to be able to provide assistance to more women than they were able to assist in the past.
I would like to mention one additional fact that I did not know before receiving the attached document. This legislation was sponsored by the seven California affiliates of Susan G. Komen and supported by a number of other well-known organizations. It is also very interesting to note that 21 other states have also enacted legislation to make oral anti-cancer medications more affordable and that this has not resulted in any significant impact on healthcare premiums. It is information like this and learning about the work of so many organizations that are making changes and affecting improvements for all of us that gives us hope for the future that we will see an end to breast cancer. It also tells me that I need to do a lot more research so that I can continue to share with everyone so that they are able to learn about and receive the help that they need through their breast cancer journeys.
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.