Debt collectors causing added fear and stress to cancer patients

Irish Cancer Society publishes advice for patients dealing with collection agencies

The Irish Cancer Society today called on the HSE to immediately stop referring cancer patients’ debt to collection agencies. Patients are being sent letters threatening legal action and advising that their name will be published in Stubbs Gazette, along with frequent automated calls.  This is causing distress and worry to patients going through treatment.

Averil Power, Chief Executive at the Irish Cancer Society said: “Coping with cancer can be the most emotionally, physically and financially challenging time of a person’s life. The last thing they need is the added stress and fear of being hounded by debt collectors, sometimes for as little as €80. The HSE must stop this cruel and unnecessary practice immediately.”

Cancer patients without a medical card or private health insurance face inpatient charges of up to €800 a year for treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Where the charges are not paid within 47 days, HSE policy is that they may be pursued by a debt collection agency.

The Irish Cancer Society is today publishing advice for patients on how best to deal with the charges. They can also get individual advice and support by calling the Society’s Freephone nurseline on 1800 200 700 or visiting one of its Daffodil Centres in 13 hospitals nationwide.

Léa Hearst, a breast cancer patient living in Dublin, said: “I’m really grateful the Irish Cancer Society is raising this issue.  I was shocked when I started getting calls and letters on a regular basis from a debt collection agency.  I found this extremely upsetting in the middle of fighting my cancer.

“I was very fearful about what it might mean for me if I didn’t deal directly with debt collectors.  To be charged for basic treatment was hard to take in the first place, but to have that charge sent to a debt collector added a great deal of stress to a very difficult situation.”

Ms. Power said: “We have campaigned throughout the year to abolish unfair inpatient charges, and will be calling again on the Minister for Health to do so in Budget 2020.  In the meantime, however, the HSE must stop the disgraceful practice of cancer patients being chased by debt collectors.”