Medical Oncologist
Financial preparation
Financial Planning — Before Long-Term Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy often runs for many months or years. The cost of each cycle adds up in a way that is different from a one-time procedure — and a gap in treatment because of money can affect how well it works. Planning your finances before day one protects the treatment plan.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Costs accumulate over months — Targeted therapy often runs for a year or more. The expense builds differently from a one-time procedure.
- Gaps can harm the treatment — Missing cycles because of cost can reduce how well the therapy works. Planning ahead protects the plan.
- Help exists before day one — Government schemes, drug company programmes, and hospital support are easier to access before you start than after.
- Your team needs to know — If cost becomes a problem at any point, telling your oncologist early opens options that waiting closes.
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)
(800+ reviews)
Planning your finances before targeted therapy starts gives you the best chance of completing treatment without a gap. The key steps are: verify your insurance cover, apply for government schemes before day one, find out if the drug company has a patient programme, and tell your team immediately if costs become a problem.
How do you prepare financially before starting cancer treatment?
Ask for a written cost estimate
Ask your oncologist or hospital coordinator for an itemised estimate covering the months ahead. A written figure helps you plan, compare insurance cover, and apply for assistance with accurate numbers.
Check what your insurance actually covers
Call your insurer before treatment begins — not after the first cycle. Ask specifically about targeted therapy drugs, day-care chemotherapy, and PET-CT scans. Ask whether prior authorisation is needed and get the answer in writing.
Apply for Ayushman Bharat or your state scheme now
PM-JAY covers cancer treatment for eligible families. Telangana has Aarogyasri and Andhra Pradesh has YSR Aarogyasri. Apply before your first cycle — these schemes usually cannot cover costs that have already been paid.
Ask whether the drug manufacturer has a patient programme
Several companies that make targeted therapy drugs offer reduced-cost or free-drug programmes for patients who qualify financially. Ask your oncologist or the hospital pharmacy team whether a programme exists for your specific medicine.
Ask the hospital about a financial counsellor
Most large cancer hospitals have a social worker or financial counsellor. They can identify which schemes you qualify for, help with paperwork, and sometimes arrange a payment plan if the full cost cannot be met upfront.
Check your income and leave options
Frequent appointments can affect working hours. Check your employer's medical leave policy and whether your EPF account allows a medical advance withdrawal. Start EPF paperwork early — the process takes several weeks.
Tell your team immediately if you cannot afford a cycle
Stopping treatment mid-course because of cost is more harmful than asking for help early. Your oncologist can sometimes adjust timing, explore an alternative, or connect you to assistance. Do not go silent.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
You do not have to work this out alone
A 45-minute consultation with a specialist who treats this every week.
Why does financial planning need to happen before treatment starts?
Targeted therapy is usually taken for months or years, not weeks. The cost accumulates in a way that is different from surgery or a short course of chemotherapy — and it is the sustained cost that catches families off guard.
Government schemes and drug company programmes almost always require you to apply before treatment starts. Trying to access them after you have already paid is usually not possible.
A gap in treatment — skipping a cycle because funds ran short — can affect how well the therapy controls the cancer. Tell your oncologist or financial counsellor about a funding problem as soon as it appears, not after it has already caused a missed dose.
What should you have ready before your first cycle?
- Written cost estimate received and understood
- Insurance authorisation confirmed in writing for day-care cancer treatment
- PM-JAY or state scheme eligibility checked; application submitted if eligible
- Drug company patient assistance programme checked for your specific medicine
- Hospital financial counsellor consulted if there are gaps in cover
- Employer medical leave policy checked
- EPF medical advance application started if needed
- Family member identified to manage paperwork on difficult days
Explore 119 more Targeted Therapy Basics, Testing & Your Cancer Type topics
Before You Start - Preparation & Baseline
- 25 Questions to Ask Your Oncologist Before Starting Targeted Therapy
- Before You Start Targeted Therapy: The Complete Preparation Checklist
- Dental Check-Up Before Cancer Treatment: Why It Matters
- Financial Planning Before Starting Long-Term Targeted Therapy
- How Long After Surgery Can You Start Targeted Therapy?
- How to Store Your Targeted Therapy Tablets Correctly
- Setting Up a Dosing Routine You Won't Forget
- Should Targeted Therapy Be Taken With Food or on an Empty Stomach?
- Vaccinations Before and During Cancer Treatment
- What to Expect in Your First Month on Targeted Therapy
- Which Baseline Tests Are Done Before Starting a TKI?
- Which of Your Existing Medicines Must Stop Before Targeted Therapy
- Why You Need an ECHO and ECG Before Certain Cancer Drugs
Biomarker & Molecular Testing
- Can Mutation Testing Be Done on an Old Biopsy Block or Slides?
- Cost of NGS and Mutation Testing in India: 2026 Price Guide
- Do I Need Genetic Testing Before Starting Targeted Therapy?
- Germline vs Somatic Testing: The Difference Nobody Explains Properly
- Getting a Second Opinion on Your Genomic Report
- How Long Do Mutation Test Results Take in India? Realistic Timelines
- How to Read Your Molecular Pathology Report, Line by Line
- IHC, FISH, PCR or NGS: Which Mutation Test Is Right for Your Cancer?
- Is Mutation Testing Worth It If I Can't Afford the Drug?
- Liquid Biopsy vs Tissue Biopsy: Which Test Do You Need?
- My Report Says a Mutation Is 'Actionable': What Does That Mean?
- No Mutation Found in My Report: What Are My Options Now?
- Should I Start Chemotherapy While Waiting for Mutation Results?
- Should You Repeat Molecular Testing After Your Cancer Progresses?
- Single-Gene Test or Full Panel? How to Choose Without Wasting Money
- What Are PD-L1, TMB and MSI, and Do They Affect Targeted Therapy?
- What Does 'Variant of Uncertain Significance' (VUS) Mean?
- What Happens If There Isn't Enough Tissue for Mutation Testing?
- What Is NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) Testing in Cancer?
- What Is a Molecular Tumour Board and Why Should You Want One?
- Which Cancers Should Always Be Tested for Mutations? A Checklist
- ctDNA and MRD Testing: Tracking Cancer Through a Blood Test
Cancer-Type Specific Targeted Therapy
- CML Treatment with TKIs: Living a Normal Life Span
- Cancer of Unknown Primary: Can Molecular Testing Help?
- GIST Treatment: Why This Cancer Changed Targeted Therapy Forever
- Targeted Therapy for Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)
- Targeted Therapy for Bladder and Urothelial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Brain Tumours and Glioma
- Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer: HER2, HR+ and Triple Negative
- Targeted Therapy for CLL and Lymphoma
- Targeted Therapy for Cervical and Endometrial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Childhood Cancers
- Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer: RAS, BRAF and HER2
- Targeted Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Kidney Cancer (RCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Liver Cancer (HCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer: Every Mutation and Drug Explained
- Targeted Therapy for Melanoma: BRAF and MEK Inhibitors
- Targeted Therapy for Multiple Myeloma
- Targeted Therapy for Neuroendocrine Tumours
- Targeted Therapy for Ovarian Cancer: PARP Inhibitors and Beyond
- Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Limited but Real Options
- Targeted Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Sarcoma
- Targeted Therapy for Stomach and Gastroesophageal Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Thyroid Cancer
- Targeted Therapy in AML: Beyond Standard Chemotherapy
- Tumour-Agnostic Drugs: When the Mutation Matters More Than the Organ
Foundations & How Targeted Therapy Works
- Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Targeted Therapy: Treatment Before or After Surgery
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs): The Smart Bombs of Cancer Treatment
- Biosimilars and Generic Targeted Therapy Drugs: What They Are
- Can Targeted Therapy Be Combined with Chemotherapy or Radiation?
- Can Targeted Therapy Cure Cancer? An Honest Answer
- First-Line, Second-Line and Beyond: How Treatment Lines Work
- How Doctors Decide Between Chemo, Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
- How Does Targeted Therapy Actually Work? Explained Without Jargon
- How Long Does Targeted Therapy Take to Start Working?
- Is Targeted Therapy Painful? What the Treatment Actually Feels Like
- Is Targeted Therapy a Type of Chemotherapy? Clearing Up the Confusion
- Oral Tablets vs IV Infusion Targeted Therapy: What's the Difference?
- Precision Oncology vs Personalised Medicine: Are They the Same Thing?
- Targeted Therapy Success Rates: What the Numbers Really Mean
- Targeted Therapy for Stage 4 Cancer: What You Can Realistically Expect
- Targeted Therapy vs Chemotherapy: 12 Differences That Actually Matter
- Targeted Therapy vs Immunotherapy: Which One Is Right for You?
- The 8 Main Types of Targeted Therapy Drugs (With Examples)
- What Do Cancer Drug Endings Like -nib, -mab and -tinib Mean?
- What Is Targeted Therapy for Cancer? A Complete Patient Guide
- Which Cancers Can Be Treated with Targeted Therapy? Full List
- Why Didn't My Doctor Recommend Targeted Therapy for Me?
Mutation & Target-Specific Pages
- ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: Drugs, Response and What Comes Next
- Antiangiogenic Drugs (VEGF Inhibitors): How Starving a Tumour Works
- BCR-ABL and the Philadelphia Chromosome in CML
- BRAF V600E Mutation: Targeted Therapy Across Multiple Cancers
- BRCA vs HRD Testing: Which One Determines PARP Inhibitor Eligibility?
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Cancer Treatment: PARP Inhibitors
- BTK Inhibitors in CLL and Lymphoma
- CD20, CD38 and Other Antibody Targets in Blood Cancers
- CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer
- Co-Mutations: When You Have Two Mutations at Once
- EGFR Exon 20 Insertion: Why It's Different and Harder to Treat
- EGFR Mutation in Lung Cancer: Complete Patient Guide
- ESR1 Mutation: Why Your Hormone Therapy Stopped Working
- FGFR Alterations in Bladder and Bile Duct Cancer
- FLT3 Mutation in AML: What It Means for Your Prognosis
- HER2 Mutation in Lung and Gastric Cancer
- HER2-Low Breast Cancer: A New Category That Changes Treatment
- HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: The Full Targeted Therapy Roadmap
- IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations in Glioma, AML and Bile Duct Cancer
- KIT and PDGFRA Mutations in GIST
- KRAS G12C Mutation: The Target That Was Undruggable for 40 Years
- KRAS Mutation but Not G12C: What Are My Options?
- MET Exon 14 Skipping and MET Amplification Explained
- MSI-High and Mismatch Repair Deficiency: Testing and Treatment
- NRG1, MET, RET and Other Rare Fusions: Where to Get Tested
- NTRK Fusion: One Drug for Many Different Cancers
- Osimertinib: What to Expect, Side Effects and How Long It Works
- PALB2, ATM and Other BRCA-Like Genes: Do They Get the Same Drugs?
- PIK3CA Mutation in Breast Cancer: Alpelisib and What to Expect
- PSMA and AR-Targeted Therapy in Prostate Cancer
- RET Fusion Cancer: Lung, Thyroid and Beyond
- ROS1-Positive Cancer: A Rare Mutation with Excellent Options
- TP53 Mutation: Why There's Still No Targeted Drug for It
- Understanding Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) in Your Report
- What If My Mutation Has No Approved Drug Yet?
- mTOR Inhibitors in Cancer: Everolimus and Temsirolimus
Next step
Still not sure what applies to you?
Send your reports across and a senior medical oncologist will go through what they mean, what is known, and what the options actually are.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does health insurance cover targeted therapy drugs in India?
Not automatically. Many policies cover hospitalisation but exclude or cap outpatient and day-care cancer drugs, which is where most targeted therapies are given. Call your insurer before the first cycle and ask specifically about day-care chemotherapy and targeted therapy drugs, whether prior authorisation is required, and what any sub-limit is. If there is a gap between what the policy pays and the actual cost, your hospital's billing team can tell you what you will need to cover yourself.
What is Ayushman Bharat and will it cover my cancer treatment?
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is a central government health scheme that covers cancer treatment for eligible families up to a defined limit per year. Eligibility depends on whether your household is on the beneficiary list. Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have state extensions that expand coverage further. Check eligibility before starting — the scheme usually cannot reimburse costs already paid. Your nearest government hospital or the CION team can help you check and apply.
Can we withdraw EPF money for cancer treatment?
Yes. The Employees' Provident Fund allows a special withdrawal for treatment of a serious illness, including cancer, for you or an immediate family member. The amount depends on your account balance and the applicable rules. Contact your employer's HR department or the EPFO directly to begin the process. It typically takes several weeks, so start early — well before you need the funds.
What if we cannot afford the full cost of treatment?
Tell your oncologist or the hospital's financial counsellor as soon as you know, not after you have already missed a cycle. Options that may exist include drug company patient assistance programmes, hospital hardship funds, charitable organisations such as the Indian Cancer Society, and state welfare schemes. Some treatment plans can also be reviewed, and that is a clinical conversation worth having with your oncologist directly. An early conversation protects the treatment in a way that silence does not.
Is a second opinion worth getting if the recommended drug is very expensive?
Yes. A second opinion is reasonable before starting a long and expensive course of treatment. It can confirm the recommendation, identify a similarly effective medicine that costs less, or reveal a clinical trial where the drug cost is covered. Most oncologists expect and welcome second opinions. Ask your current team for a referral letter — it helps the consulting doctor understand your case without repeating every test.