As you think about taking part in a clinical trial, you will face the issue of how to cover the costs of care. There are two types of costs in a clinical trial: patient care costs and research costs.
Patient care costs are those costs related to treating your cancer, whether you are in a trial or receiving standard treatment. These costs are often covered by health insurance. These costs include:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital stays
- Standard cancer treatments
- Treatments to improve symptoms of cancer or side effects from treatment
- Lab tests
- X-rays and other imaging tests
Research costs are those related to taking part in the trial. Often these costs are not covered by health insurance, but they may be covered by the trial’s sponsor. Examples of these costs include:
- The study drugs
- Lab tests performed purely for research purposes
- Added x-rays and imaging tests performed solely for the trial
When you take part in a trial, you may have extra doctor visits that you would not have with standard treatment. During these visits, your doctor carefully watches for side effects and your safety in the study. These extra visits can add costs for transportation, housing, food, and childcare. You should speak to your physician about the potential costs of participating in a trial.
Text adapted from the National Cancer Institute; images provided by Genentech. Reviewed on November 15, 2023.