Why is radiation so expensive ??

Hi all just wanted to update you I have finally got a referral for the public system and have an appointment on Monday.. hopefully all goes well. 

As I understand it, no private health insurance covers radiotherapy unless you are treated as an ‘in patient’, which is rare. When the government changed the Medicare safety net a while ago the radiation oncologists protested as they said it would leave lots of cancer patients out of pocket and the public system couldn’t cope if everyone moved over. I wasn’t given the option of public & didn’t understand the system until it was too late. I saw my radiation oncologist & he didn’t mention cost. Then at my planning session they ‘forgot’ to discuss the out of pocket before treatment commenced. Because I am bilateral the cost was double! I ended up kicking up a bit of a fuss about their failure to discuss costs with me prior to treatment and they reduced my out of pocket by 25% on the spot. Seems there is a lot of flexibility in what is charged!

@Jazz26 I am also in WA. Where are you being treated?

Hi Jual yes that is about how much I would be out of pocket. I got told this by the place I was referred to, my doctor never gave me a choice of going public that's just what I was given. I will be calling tomorrow and asking for another referral for public. I think the idea of the money put towards a well deserved holiday sounds better too ;-)  We go through enough with out treatment without being slapped with unnecessary bills ! 

I saw a private rads oncologist for a consult. When I asked about cost, she actually advised that she works in a public hospital as well so suggested doing it there but if I really wanted it in the private hospital it would be 2k out of pocket. I was surprised that the private rads oncologist would actually suggest going public. I would ask the question of the rads oncologist if they practice in a public hospital. Then you might get the best of both worlds. Jen xx.

I have begun exploring this issue as after surgery I will need radiation (currently having chemo). The referring surgeon told me that I would be out of pocket by 3K to 5K in the private setting and would be no more flexible. I could be referred to a private radio therapist who would bulk bill me in the public sector instead in the two local public hospitals, would provide free parking and still have fiexibility with times so I could fit in around work!  Whilst I am able to afford this, I thought to myself, that out of pocket cost would fund a great holiday instead!! 

All the best with it @Jazz26. 

Wow thank you for all the feedback ladies. I think I will definitely look into it more before I start as It is wrong to be told you have to pay thousands $$ for something that is actually free or very small cost in the public system. Time to contact my doctor and ask for another referral also. I know things vary from state to state but surely WA is not that different ! Thank you everyone :-) 

Im a public patient and I have never paid a cent for chemo or radiation and as I have met my medicare safety net threshold all my meds are free too.

I was also horrified that my private health insurance didn't cover any of the radiation treatment costs.  It was explained to me that it wasn't covered as you needed to be admitted as a patient (day patient or overnight), and this didn't happen with radiation treatment as you are in and out, thus my private health insurance wont cover any of the out of pocket expenses -shame on private health insurance funds!.   

I had a discussion about my financial situation with the private radiation practice I was refereed to, as I was going to move into the public system for radiation, but they reduced my out of pocket expenses without hesitation to a very small amount.  They also billed medicare directly so there was no stress in paying or claiming.  I've only just finished radiation treatment and medicare covered approx $17,000. 

Not trying to defend the costs charged, but I was happy to make the small contribution to my treatment as the radiation technicians have many years of training, the doctors are specialists, I had constant access to a nurse and the high level of machines used cost upwards from 3 million (I ask on my first visit) and require lots of technical maintenance which is very expensive.  The biggest plus for me was being able to have the first appointment each day so I could continue working.  Our public system is also excellent with well trained professional experts who often work across both public and private, but most public hospitals are also training hospitals and care for larger numbers of patients and I would expect this makes them viable on the medicare scheduled fee.