Health Insurance Coverage

I believe that health insurance companies should cover the cost of psychological and psychiatric care of the family members of cancer patients. Cancer has been an all too prevalent topic in my life, and I have seen first hand the effects that it can have on the sons, daughters, wives, husbands, sisters, and brothers of the patient. It hurts my heart to see how people have so drastically changed their life goals and beliefs due to their experiences with cancer and I believe that if they had had some sort of professional counseling that was covered by insurance, their beliefs would not have been so negatively influenced by cancer.

Doctors of the cancer patients would argue that it is beneficial to the patient because when the patient knows that his or her family is doing as well as they can emotionally, the cancer patient will be less stressed and worried.

Cancer patients themselves would argue for it because they want to know that their family is healthy and doing well even while they are not. Knowing that the people who love them are receiving the proper care is just as important to their own well-being.

Family members might argue against insurance covering these services. Maybe they are embarrassed to be receiving medical care when they are not the real victims of cancer. If insurance did not cover these services, they might not go out of their way to pay for them. However, if they were covered, family members might be angry that they no longer have a valid reason to hide their psychological needs.

Insurance companies would be against coverage because it would cost them more money to provide doctors for their clients. This would damage the company and drain funds.

Friends of cancer patients would be in favor of coverage because they would not have to bear the burden of listening to and supporting the family members all by themselves. They would now be an additional and essential resource to the family members, but they would be less stressed about whether or not they were giving the right advice.