The New York Times recently reported that insurers are rarely covering oral chemotherapy prescribed by doctors.  While less than 10 percent of all cancer patients are treated with oral agents, that number is expected to grow to 25 percent in the next several years.

The article profiles several patients that have been forced to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for their oral chemotherapy drugs.  Most cancer patients are treated with intravenous chemotherapy at a hospital or their doctor's office which are typically paid for as a medical benefit.  In 2007, the state of Oregon passed legislation that requires insurers to provide equivalent reimbursement for oral and intravenous chemotherapy drugs.  Several other states, including Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma and Washington, are now considering similar legislation.

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