After a cancer diagnosis, medical bills, insurance forms, and unexpected costs can pile up quickly.
The financial stress of cancer – some researchers call it "financial toxicity" – can take an emotional toll.
It can affect your quality of life and studies show that some patients suffer from increased pain and other symptoms.
The good news is that small steps to get organized may help you feel more in control and less stressed.
Here are a series of Microsteps that can help you feel empowered to take charge of your financial health.
Organize your medical bills and paperwork in a dedicated binder or digital filing system to store bills, receipts, and insurance statements in one place.
Include blank pages for note taking, and bring the binder with you to every appointment.
Set up a dedicated email inbox for all health-related messages.
Creating an easy-to-remember email address just for medical bills and insurance keeps important communications in one place and allows you to share access with a trusted person who can help you manage bills if you need help.
Match your medical bills to the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) your insurer sends.
Medical billing errors can happen.
Keep all your medical bills and your insurance forms in one place so you can easily compare them line by line for matching dates, providers, and charges.
If something doesn't add up, call your provider's billing office or your insurer for clarification, and keep a record of whom you spoke with and when.
Taking a few minutes to double check charges can save time and frustration later if you're billed for things you don't actually owe.
Schedule one "bill day" each week by putting it on your calendar.
Choose a single day and time each week to organize your medical bills.
This routine keeps bills from piling up and allows you to focus on other priorities the rest of the week.
Talk to your care team about cost-savings options for all of your prescriptions.
Coupons, generics, samples and mail order drug programs all can help you reduce costs.
Meet with your human resources department at work to talk about all your benefits and leave options.
Even if you think you know all your benefits, it's worth having a conversation about sick days and other benefits available to you.
Look into travel and lodging support.
If your treatment takes you far from home, bills for travel, food and hotel rooms can add up quickly.
Check out programs like ACS Hope Lodge, Ronald McDonald House, or the Healthcare Hospitality Network for low- or no-cost housing.
Managing the costs and paperwork of cancer may sometimes feel overwhelming, but focusing on one small action at a time can reduce stress and free up more energy for you to focus on your health and recovery.