Sophia's ongoing cancer journey is now an insurance battle

Sophia has been blindsided by her health insurer NIB changing her policy so she has to pay hundreds of dollars towards vital scans. She now is having to pay what are called “co-payments” for her cancer scans – where instead of the insurer covering costs in full, she has to cover 20%, even though her rare form of cancer is an existing condition, approved under her existing policy.

Sophia was first diagnosed with follicular dendritic cell sarcoma six years ago and has been paying for insurance with nib for more than 20 years which until now has helped cover the costs associated with her diagnostic testing and the cost of the administration (not the drug itself) of her immunotherapy drug nivolumab which is non funded by insurance or public health.

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After several rounds of surgery, multiple cycles of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, over the last 6 years. Sophia's cancer is now stable after a terminal diagnosis. But as her cancer is so rare and has a high recurrence rate, she needs regular scans every 3 months to monitor. Each scan costs approx $2400, making her 20% share about $480, on top of an already eye watering and exhorbitant monthly premium of $543.