Cancer is poor
Cancer is poor. According to a study of the Flemish League against Cancer (VLK). It’s not just people who have struggled with financial problems before they became ill. Even people who normally manage to make ends meet, ending up with cancer often in poverty. Their income, or the replacement income which they rely for a long time, is no longer sufficient for the sometimes escalating medical expenses paid. Social security provides adequate protection for these people.
Every year, the Cancer Fund of the Flemish League against Cancer and more requests for financial assistance. The fund is a last resort when all provisions of social security have been exhausted. The VLK this year a budget of 860,000 euros to provide cancer patients with financial difficulties to assist. The support of the Cancer Fund for many cancer patients is essential. But the fund can never be an adequate solution to the financial problems of cancer patients. There are structural measures of the government for that.
Medical and non medical care costs in the files of the Cancer Fund
An analysis of applications to the Cancer Fund, shows that less than 45% of households receiving benefits had the need to dust with an income below the poverty line.
It’s not just people who have financial problems faced before becoming ill . Even people who normally manage to get by, often ending up in poverty by cancer. People with cancer get a job that fall back on a benefit that is considerably lower than their wages. If there is still a high medical expenses come on top, this is too much for many patients. Also, elderly pensioners with low incomes and people with a living wage or unemployment are so much trouble. The same research shows that a large group of cancer patients who normally would survive because of their high medical expenses in financial need get it. Thus, many patients are faced with high hospital supplements that they have to pay out of pocket.
Medical and non-medical costs
Non-medical expenses are:
1. rental of equipment,
2. travel expenses,
3. incontinence pads,
4. care equipment,
5. purchase of material,
6. a wig,
7. a prosthesis,
8. cleaning services,
9. rehabilitation,
10. family care,
11. service,
12. tube feeding,
13. other. Medical costs are: 1. pharmacy costs, 2. consultations, 3. hospital bills.
Average health care costs
The average total healthcare cost in one year amounts to 2,169 euros, 1,775 euros and 394 euros medical expenses non-medical costs. There is a large variation: one quarter of the patients pay less than 1,061 euros, one quarter paid more than 2,795 euros. The average cost in the first year after diagnosis is 2,243 euros (1,875 euros medical and 368 euros non-medical costs). In the second year after diagnosis, the average total health care costs 2,118 euros (1,805 euros medical and 313 euros non-medical costs). In patients deceased at the end of or shortly after the close of the period the total average cost care costs at 2401 euros (2010 euros and 391 euros medical non-medical costs).
Health intervention
In 14% of the 1,660 cases studied, there is a health insurance through the intervention of the Flemish government in the non-medical costs of serious need of care. If we intervene charge factored in, the average non-medical costs of 394 euros to 325 euros.
This decline fits a relativistic note: not all patients with high medical costs can not benefit. In cases with high non-medical costs (more than 1157 euros) is 74% of patients (135 cases) are not eligible for health insurance.
45% below poverty line
In the Cancer Care Fund registered average cost of 2,169 euros in one year for many families may not be insurmountable. But for the families at the Cancer Fund, with a low average income, this is different. If we are the incomes of families at the Cancer Fund situated opposite the poverty threshold (60% of the median standardized net disposable household income), shows that 45% of households below this limit is. Especially families with the highest incomes a living wage, an allowance for disability or unemployment is down below this limit. Families with a salary or a pension do better, but 40% is still below the poverty line. Families who live on an illness or disability are in an intermediate position.
Vulnerable groups
The study also shows that a sizeable group of cancer patients who usually just ends meet because of their high health still in financial trouble hit.
In the year of the Cancer Fund File doubles the number of single people with an inadequate budget by the medical and non medical costs: no The health suffers 22% (133 cases) with an inadequate budget, with the addition of medical and non-medical costs this number up to 43% (264 cases).
Even when we see such couples without children doubled, from 17% (121 files) to 34.8% (244 cases). The supplements Hospital (room, materials fee and supplements) are a large part of the contribution of cancer.
Inadequate protection
Analysis of the Cancer Fund Files has some limitations. It is not a representative sample: applications to the Cancer Fund come from people with relatively low income and relatively high costs. Moreover, no data in the Cancer Fund of flat-rate (palliative care package, package incontinence, chronic care package). Despite these limitations, the study shows clearly that many people with cancer in financial difficulties and that social security they provide adequate protection. The VLK can not. People with cancer are entitled to a living (replacement) income so that their illness is not in poverty. And the medical and non-medical care costs that they have to wear should be limited. Cancer itself is more than heavy enough. All Flemish politicians in the federal, Flemish and Brussels Parliament are summoned to the requirements of the HVAC to endorse and work to make higher payments and a reduction in healthcare costs. More info