| My cost for RT |
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07/12/2013 02:35
JohnG 
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07/12/2013 02:35
JohnG
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My cost for RT
Here are the costs for radiation therapy at the Univ of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics earlier this year. One hand was treated in ten sessions.
$30,630 = amount billed by hospital + physicians (this is what an uninsured person would pay)
$12,715 = amount allowed by the insurance company (in the U.S., when an insurance company receives the bills, they force the provider to reduce the amount).
This $12,715 cost was split approximately 90% / 10%
$11,609 = amount paid by insurance company
$1,106 = amount paid by me (which was not enough to hit the annual out-of-pocket maximum for my insurance).
Some of the costs happened before the actual treatment began: I consulted with the radiation oncologist and his colleague the hand surgeon, who palpated my hand and used an ink pen to mark my hand with his suggestion for a treatment area (the surgeon's cost was $300 billed, $150 accepted). More costly than these consultations was CT and MRI imaging -- this clinic, which usually treats cancer patients, uses imaging before the treatment to guide the treatment.
I hope that info will be helpful to others who are thinking about RT and wondering about the cost. My insurance company is the Blue Cross company for Iowa, and the policy is called BlueChoice.
Edited 07/12/13 23:13
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07/12/2013 14:40
PatJohnston6384 
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07/12/2013 14:40
PatJohnston6384
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Re: My cost for RT
John, This information is very helpful regarding the costs for RT. I am on Medicare. Does anyone know if Medicare covers RT? Pat
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07/12/2013 19:55
callie 
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07/12/2013 19:55
callie
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Re: My cost for RT
All medicare is not the same. It depends on your location. Some areas have paid for it and others have not. The problem is that they will not tell you ahead of time.
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07/13/2013 05:03
LubaM.
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07/13/2013 05:03
LubaM.
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Re: My cost for RT
Back in November 2009 Medicare paid for my RT at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, CA. Another member of this forum had a problem with Medicare paying at the same hospital at a later date.
I would suggest making sure with the hospital/clinic doing the RT ahead of time, their Billing Dept. should know if their claims are being paid or not by Medicare. I would believe they would make you sign a paper that you are responsible for payment if Medicare doesn't cover it.
Edited 07/13/13 08:07
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07/13/2013 14:45
PatJohnston6384
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07/13/2013 14:45
PatJohnston6384
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Re: My cost for RT
So before receiving RT I should check with a facilities finance office about Medicare payments for RT. Good advice! Pat
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07/13/2013 20:33
mharrel 
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07/13/2013 20:33
mharrel
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Re: My cost for RT
To put things in perspective, my costs for RT in Hamburg was around 1000 for the first round and 900 for the second. Trouble is I can' remember whether that was dollars or euros, but it was ridiculously less expensive than the $20K I was quoted at the Univ of Oklahoma. Also, this was 2010.
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07/13/2013 20:47
spanishbuddha  Administrator
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07/13/2013 20:47
spanishbuddha Administrator
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Re: My cost for RT
mharrel:
To put things in perspective, my costs for RT in Hamburg was around 1000 for the first round and 900 for the second. Trouble is I can' remember whether that was dollars or euros, but it was ridiculously less expensive than the $20K I was quoted at the Univ of Oklahoma. Also, this was 2010.
Sounds right for Euro's. That's 450 for each week of 15Gy.
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07/13/2013 22:08
lauriw 
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07/13/2013 22:08
lauriw
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Re: My cost for RT
John, I was suprised to hear that UIHCTreated you with RT. I went to them early 2010 and met with a radiologist for about an hour. He was skeptical, said he would get back to me but never did. Who was your radiologist? I found Dr. Colletier with Mercy in Des Moines and he treated me, I believe I was first one in Iowa. I fought with BCBS, they initially denied coverage, but after quite a battle where I threatened to sue, they reconsidered. I would like to know more about your experience! Where in Iowa are you from? I am excited to know that we have two places now doing RT in Iowa. Lauriw
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07/16/2013 15:17
JohnG
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07/16/2013 15:17
JohnG
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Re: My cost for RT
lauriw:
John, I was suprised to hear that UIHCTreated you with RT. I went to them early 2010 and met with a radiologist for about an hour. He was skeptical, said he would get back to me but never did. Who was your radiologist?
Lauri, I don't want to post a name because I didn't ask permission to do so, but it was the head of the Dept. of Radiation Oncology, which you can find on the .edu webpage for the medical college (not the hospital's webpage).
Various other posters in the U.S. have reported success in finding a doctor for RT by doing something similar -- identifying the department head at a major medical college and contacting that person.
Edited 07/16/13 18:19
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07/16/2013 15:27
JohnG
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07/16/2013 15:27
JohnG
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Re: My cost for RT
spanishbuddha:
Sounds right for Euro's. That's 450 for each week of 15Gy.
Medical procedures in the U.S. cost a large multiple of what the same care costs in other industrialized countries.
If my insurance hadn't covered it, I would have considered travel to Hamburg.
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