The financial costs of being sick

[Neil Cuadra]

We all know the primary costs when you're sick:

• doctor bills
• hospital bills
• lab bills
• pharmacy bills
• lost income when you can't work or have to take early retirement

But those aren't all.

There's the lost income when family members have to take time off to care for you.

You have to pay for transportation to/from your appointments. And it's annoying if you have to pay for parking when you have frequent doctor's appointments.

You might travel far, even out of state, to get the best second opinion you can find, and that can be expensive. If your treatment is away from home, you may need lodging for you or family members. You may be buying meals out because you're at the hospital, when you could have eaten more affordably at home.

Over-the-counter medications may not cost as much as full-price prescription drugs, but since insurance isn't paying a share they can actually cost more.

If the expenses are a strain, look for financial assistance programs. You'll find some on the Marrowforums Medical Resources page.

What other expenses have you run into? Do you have any cost-saving tips to share?