Ann Bergan

I had breast cancer in 2009, and we had what we thought was very good insurance. As it turned out, the plan only covered about 40% of the radiation I needed.

And 35 days of radiation at $488 a day, or something like that, adds up fast.
We were fortunate. My husband has a good job, and we put it on the card and paid for it over time and it is paid off now.

My advice to others is to make sure you know what your costs are going to be ahead of time. You don’t have to go in blind. They (doctors, hospitals and other providers) may not be able to give you an exact amount, but they know generally. You need to ask because they won’t tell you, they’ll just send you a bill you have to pay. So you’re better off asking and getting whatever information you can.