Clinical trials are research studies to test new drugs or treatments in humans. These studies compare treatments that are in use today (standard treatments) with others that may be better. Before a new treatment is used on people, it is studied in the lab. If lab studies suggest it will work, the next step is to test its value for patients. These human studies are called clinical trials.
Clinical trials are an important part of cancer care. In most cases, when a patient enrolls in a clinical trial, the cost of tests, procedures, drugs, extra doctor visits, and any research related to the study itself is covered by the group that sponsors the clinical trial. The sponsor of the clinical trial may be a government agency such as the National Cancer Institute, a drug company, or some other agency.
Sometimes a health insurance plan may define clinical trials as "experimental" or "investigational." When this happens, the insurance may not even cover some of the costs of what is really routine care. This routine care includes costs for things like doctor visits, hospital stays, and tests or treatments that you would have needed even if you were not taking part in a clinical trial.
It is important that cancer patients have insurance that covers clinical trials. Lack of insurance coverage can keep patients who might want to be in a clinical trial from taking part in one.
Many states have laws in place regarding insurance coverage for clinical trials. The tables below contain information about laws and special agreements that require insurance plans to cover a patient's medical expenses during a clinical trial.
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