Affordability of Cancer Care in Canada

Despite living in a country with universal healthcare, many people in Canada are stuck paying out-of-pocket for lifesaving and life-enhancing products and services. Things like testing, medications, prostheses, assistive products, post-operative supplies and caregiver costs. Then there are the travel costs many in this country face, particularly those in rural and remote communities. This includes transportation to and from regular oncology appointments, chemotherapy and radiation, and accommodations for those traveling especially far. These are costs that hit hard, especially in today’s economy as cost-of-living soars and millions of Canadians are struggling to make ends meet. The reality is cancer isn’t something we plan for – and certainly not something most people have budgeted for. So, when a diagnosis hits, the financial impact can be crushing. People with cancer perceive their financial burden to be high, reportedly spending about one-third of their monthly income on cancer-related costs which in turn leads to depleted savings and increased debt per household.