Total treatment cost
The total cost to cure my lymphoma was $77,633. This figure includes what was actually paid by both me and my insurance company.
To determine the actual "cost to cure" I only considered bills from the date I first went to the doctor for symptoms until the date I received my "all clear" PET scan (October 2003 through May 2004).
* CT/PET scans, bloodwork, pathology, x-rays, MUGA/PFT scans
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How much did I pay out-of-pocket?
People often ask me, "How much did you have to pay yourself?" The answer: About $1,500.
As I describe in my journal, I switched insurance companies halfway through my treatment to save money. Here is the cost breakdown by year of how much they paid and I paid:
| 2003/Lumenos | 2004/Cigna | Both years | |
| Insurance paid | 36,936 | 39,156 | 76,092 |
| Copays, Out-of-pocket (I paid) | 1,405 | 136 | 1,541 |
| Total | 38,341 | 39,292 | 77,633 |
| Insurance premiums (I paid) * | 110 | 185 | 295 |
Total cost estimates
I thought it would be fun to try and guess how much everything would end up costing when everything was said and done. Below, I've recorded the estimates from anybody who sent one to me.
The person who guessed the closest was Larry W., although Eric S. and John F. were quite close too. The guesses are below; I'll let you decide who the rightful winner is :-)
The average guess was $137,599 (off by $59,966).
The lowest guess was $48,000 (off by $29,633)).
The highest guess was $300,000 (off by $222,367).
| Date guessed | Person | Amount | Off by |
| 29 Oct 2003 | Preston H. | $50,000 | 27,633 |
| 29 Oct 2003 | Aimee G. | $100,000 | 22,367 |
| 30 Oct 2003 | Suzanne T. | $150,000 | 72,367 |
| 2 Nov 2003 | Pam H. | $185,000 | 107,367 |
| 2 Nov 2003 | John H. | $225,000 | 147,367 |
| 3 Nov 2003 | Julie D. | $100,000 | 22,367 |
| 5 Nov 2003 | Laura O. | $103,000 | 25,367 |
| 5 Nov 2003 | Suzanne | $90,000 | 12,367 |
| 6 Nov 2003 | Linden C. | $145,000 | 67,367 |
| 9 Nov 2003 | Paul S. | $175,000 | 97,367 |
| 11 Nov 2003 | Wendy K. | $200,000 | 122,367 |
| 21 Nov 2003 | Zack S. | $300,000 | 222,367 |
| 24 Nov 2003 | Eric S. | $80,000 | 2,367 |
| 1 Dec 2003 | Larry W. | $79,999 | 2,366 |
| 3 Dec 2003 | Michael S. | $211,375.25 | 133,742 |
| 4 Dec 2003 | Miles P. | $222,000 | 144,367 |
| 16 Dec 2003 | Lelia B. | $70,000 | 7,633 |
| 26 Jan 2004 | Acy R. | $48,000 | 29,633 |
| 17 Feb 2004 | John F. | $80,000.01 | 2,367 |