I have heard from a professional at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute that the entire cancer industry in the United States is built around the research of 10 years of studies. No one wants to take any action on anything in the US until a 10-year study has been completed. That is the reason there’s been a reluctance in the insurance industry to pay for proton therapy. The therapy is relatively new and expensive, and until recently there has not been a lot of research. Now, with more 10-year studies being released some insurance companies have found that in the long run, costs are better with proton therapy because they don’t have to pay for the follow-on problems they have seen in other types of cancer treatments. The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute has contributed significantly to that research.
I am just starting to receive statements from my insurance so I don’t know what my out-of-pocket cost will be.