What are cancer treatment clinical trials?
Medicare covers some costs of clinical trials. If you have cancer, you may have more choices for your treatment.
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It is important that men and women of all ages and backgrounds take part in clinical trials. Each trial has rules about who can and cannot participate. Think about asking your doctor if you can take part in a clinical trial.
What kind of information will I get if I want to take part in a clinical trial?
Before you join a clinical trial, a doctor, nurse, or another person on the research team will explain why the trial is being done and what will happen during the clinical trial. You will be given a consent form to read.
The consent form will explain:
- The exact plan for each step in the clinical trial
- What side effects you may have
- How the trial may affect your daily life
You should ask questions about any part of the clinical trial or consent form you do not understand. If you decide to take part in the trial, you will be asked to sign the consent form. Even if you sign the consent form, you can still change your mind and stop participating at any time.
Who makes sure my rights are protected?
An IRB includes doctors, nurses, and people from the community. The IRB's job is to review clinical trials and make sure they are run safely and fairly.
What cancer treatment will I get?
If you join a clinical trial that compares treatments, you will get one of the following:
- The best accepted treatment for the kind of cancer you have (called standard treatment) or
- A new treatment that doctors hope will be better than the standard treatment
Why do some people choose not to be part of a clinical trial?
People may choose not to join a trial for any of the following reasons:
- It is not known for sure if the new treatment will help you more or less than the standard treatment.
- Treatments in clinical trials may have unexpected side effects.
- You may have to pay some of the costs of the trial that Medicare does not cover. It is important to talk about these costs with your health care provider.
Do I have to take part in a clinical trial?
No. Taking part in a clinical trial is up to you. It is important to look at all of your treatment options. You and your family should ask questions before you decide to take part. Be sure to get all the information you need before making your decision.
What cancer clinical trials does Medicare help pay for?
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- The National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Other parts of the Federal Government
If I decide to take part in a clinical trial, what costs will Medicare help pay for?
Medicare will help pay for all routine costs that are part of a clinical trial.
Medicare will help pay for:
- Visits to your doctor's office
- All tests that you will need for your medical care
- Your hospital stay(s), if you need it
- Surgery, if you need it
- Tests and treatments for side effects, if you have them
It is important to know that Medicare will not pay for all your costs.
Medicare will not pay for:
- Some clinical trial treatments
- Tests that collect information only for the trial, but are not needed for your medical care
- Coinsurance and deductibles
If I am in a Medicare Advantage Plan, can I still take part in a clinical trial?
Yes. Medicare covers the costs of participating in many cancer treatment trials, whether you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) or in the Original Medicare Plan.
You may take part in a trial outside of your Medicare Advantage Plan. Before you start treatment in a clinical trial, tell your plan. This way, your plan can still keep track of your cancer treatment.
If you have more questions about what costs Medicare will help pay for, call Medicare at:
1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227).TTY users, call
1-877-486-2048.
Questions to ask
Here are some questions to ask before you agree to take part in a clinical trial:
Tip: Write out a list of your questions and concerns to ask your doctor. |