Clinical Trial Cost Considerations

Insurance providers have specific policies regarding the types of treatments that will be covered. Most will pay for treatment, early-detection or diagnosis trials. Prevention trials are generally not covered.

A survey of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Atlanta involving 8,000 oncologists (cancer doctors) concluded that 95% of oncologists submitted insurance claims for their patients participating in clinical trials. Fewer than 10% of those claims were rejected.

Several states, including Maryland and Rhode Island, mandate that health insurance coverage extend to clinical trials for people with a life threatening condition.To learn whether your state is one of them, see the American Cancer Society: Clinical Trials: State Laws Regarding Insurance Coverage .  

If whether your insurer will pay the costs not covered by a clinical trial is a deciding factor for joining a trial, find out the facts before you join. Speak with the doctor in charge of the trial, the trial coordinator oryour own doctorto determine whether insurance companies typically cover the cost associated with the particular tiral in which you are interested. If payment has not been an issue, you may choose to take a "wait and see" approach. However, if there have been problems with obtaining insurance payment, see: How To Get Your Insurance Company To Say Yes To Paying For The Costs Of A Clinical Trial.

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