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Paying for non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment Costs and Emotional Toll

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment costs and the financial burdens of the disease make dealing with a diagnosis more difficult. The last thing you need is the stress of finding ways to pay for everything.

The good news is that support programs and financial resources are there to help you. In this article, we‘ll cover what expenses to expect and how to get financial assistance for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Written by: Lisa Merriam | Medical review by: Samuel Sarmiento, MD, MPH, MBA | Legal review by: Sean Duddy, JD |

Updated on:Jul 22, 2025

What to expect when navigating non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment costs

The cost of non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment varies, depending on your type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the disease stage, where you get care and the type of care you get, along with insurance coverage restrictions. Aside from paying for treatment, there are other expenses, such as transportation, parking, caregiver support and hotels if you have to travel for treatment.

Plan ahead to help with budgeting and getting non-Hodgkin lymphoma financial assistance. Understand what treatment will cost, what is covered by insurance and what you need to pay out-of-pocket. If you’re working, you may need time off for treatment. You need to know your rights and what programs might apply in your case.

Find out if your non-Hodgkin lymphoma was caused by exposure to Roundup

“Research has linked long-term exposure to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Many individuals used this product regularly, often at home or on the job, without knowing the potential danger. If you've been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after ongoing use of Roundup, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Click below to see if you qualify.”

Learn more about the connection between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Roundup exposure:

— Sean Duddy, JD, Partner at Duddy Czarnecki
Explore Roundup Risks

The average cost for treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma with and without insurance

Average non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment costs vary widely. The type and stage of your cancer determine what treatments you’ll get. If you have health insurance, it may cover some of the expenses, such as diagnostics, chemotherapy, doctor visits and lab tests. Even with coverage, the out-of-pocket costs can quickly add up and become a financial burden.

For example, if you have large B-cell lymphoma, you may progress through lines of therapy. A line of therapy is a different collection of treatments you receive as your disease progresses. A second-line therapy averages $41,700 per month. A third-line therapy can be $58,900 a month. Fourth-line treatments run $81,900 a month.

Advanced treatments cost more. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies that are tailored specifically for you cost between $424,000 and $542,828. Another advanced therapy using bispecific antibodies can cost between $95,900 and $152,200 per treatment cycle. The amount you will pay out-of-pocket depends on your insurance coverage.

What affects my non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment costs?

To determine how much non-Hodgkin lymphoma costs, you need to consider several factors, such as your type and stage of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, how fast the cancer is growing and how many cycles of treatment you need. Early stages don’t need as many treatments, but if your cancer is advanced, you may need aggressive and costly therapies like a stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy.

What also matters is what your insurance will pay for. Much depends on whether providers are in your network or not. Some treatments are included, while some require special authorization. You may have co-pays and deductibles, and some insurance coverage has yearly caps.

You also need to budget for costs like traveling to treatment centers, hotels if your treatments are far from home and caregiver expenses. You may need time off work or be unable to work, which can cut into your income.
Below, we detail average treatment costs to help you plan ahead and potentially get non-Hodgkin lymphoma financial support.

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Aggressive vs. indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma costs

Aggressive, or fast-growing, non-Hodgkin lymphomas need intensive therapies with hospital stays and more follow-up care. If your cancer is a slow-growing type, called indolent, your costs will typically be lower. For example:

  • Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma costs: The average monthly cost for a first-line treatment ranges between $10,000 and $15,500. If your cancer does not respond well, you’ll need additional treatments that are more expensive. For example, you may need a stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy, which can cost more than $400,000.

  • Indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma costs: Treatments for this type of cancer are less expensive at first, running about $3,800 a month. If the cancer comes back after initial treatment and starts growing more quickly, your costs will rise as new treatments are introduced.

Costs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma progression

Your non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment may involve several lines of therapy, with different treatments given as the disease progresses. Many people respond well to the first treatment, but if the cancer returns or doesn’t respond, you may need additional rounds. This process is called treatment sequencing.

Although your exact expenses will depend on your diagnosis, insurance and the treatments your doctor recommends, here’s a general idea of what different lines of non-Hodgkin lymphoma therapy may cost:

  • First-line therapy: Your doctor may start you on a standard set of treatments that have been proven to work the best for most people. These “first-line” therapies cost about $97,000 in total, or $8,100 per month.

  • Second-line therapy: If the first-line therapy doesn’t work, your cancer comes back or you can’t tolerate the side effects, you will need to move to another option. These second-line therapies average approximately $40,600 per month.

  • Third-line therapy: If the first two lines of therapy don’t work or if your cancer is advanced, you may need more aggressive options like CAR T-cell, bispecific antibodies or a stem cell transplant. The average cost for these third-line treatments is around $48,600 per month.

  • Fourth-line or later: Additional lines of treatment may include getting into a clinical trial. Other therapies may manage your symptoms or slow the progression of the disease. For fourth-line treatments, the average monthly cost is about $59,500.

Costs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatments.

How much is non-Hodgkin lymphoma chemotherapy?

A first-line treatment for most kinds of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, no matter what stage, is chemotherapy. The most recent data from 2019 puts the average out-of-pocket cost for non-Hodgkin lymphoma chemotherapy at $10,175.

Applying average inflation makes that cost closer to $12,794 today. The rate of inflation for medical treatments may be higher than the average inflation and vary by location, so your costs may be higher.

Treatment costs also depend on insurance. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society data from 2013–2017 show the average spending during the first month after diagnosis is $15,000 for Medicare patients and $30,000 for those commercially insured.

High-tech therapy costs associated with lymph cancer

Data on the cost of high-tech treatments is more recent. CAR T-cell therapies, which were first approved in 2017 under the name Kymriah, are genetically engineered T-cells grown specifically for you. They attack your specific kind of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The 2023 price for Kymriah was almost $544,000. The least expensive options, Yescarta and Tecartus, were each $424,000 in 2023. A newer option called Breyanzi lists for just over $487,000.

The cost of monoclonal antibodies, lab-created proteins that bind to cancer cells so your body can attack them, varies by the rate of infusion, number of cycles and insurance coverage. A cycle of two infusions of rituximab cost $19,452 in 2020, or about $21,500 after applying average inflation. One cycle of ibrutinib currently lists for around $15,000 with commercial insurance, but the price will drop to just below $9,500 for Medicare recipients starting in 2026.

A stem cell transplant cost $15,000–$75,000 in 2023, with some procedures climbing up to $100,000.

With all of these therapies, you will need to budget out-of-pocket costs, including transportation, hotel, meals, pre- and post-care and testing, additional medical treatments and extra caregivers.

What are the unexpected costs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Unexpected non-Hodgkin lymphoma expenses.

Medical expenses aren’t the only costs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatments. Many expenses are not covered by insurance. You may also have high deductibles and caps on coverage.

You may need to travel to visit specialists and get care at leading cancer centers. At-home care can also be costly. Consider expenses that can pile up, such as:

  • Transportation, gas and parking

  • Hotels and temporary housing

  • Restaurants, snacks and meals 

  • Elder, child or pet care

  • At-home care

  • Mental health care for you and your loved ones

  • Supplies, medical equipment or devices

  • Prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs

  • Financial and legal help

Another financial burden is lost wages. You may need time off work or may be unable to work at all. Your primary caregivers may face a similar situation. Reduced or lost wages will affect your budget.

Coping with the emotional toll of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The emotional toll of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Some costs are not measured in dollars. You and your family pay a heavy emotional toll after a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.

From the moment you first get the news through cycles of treatments, you may feel waves of emotion. With a life turned upside down, your emotions may be in turmoil. You are facing uncertainty about your health outlook, side effects that can really knock you down and disruptions to your routine. Common feelings include:

  • Fear and anxiety about the future, therapies and test results and if the cancer comes back

  • Sadness and depression about lost plans and the stress of difficult treatments

  • Frustration and anger about physical limitations, the complex healthcare system and your loss of control

  • Guilt about the burdens you’re putting on loved ones and caregivers

  • Relationship strains as roles shift and communication becomes difficult

  • Loneliness and isolation from missing work and social connections

  • Stress about paying for non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatments

Your family and loved ones bear an emotional burden, too. You and your caregivers must have a good support system. Connect with in-person and online support groups, and don’t hesitate to talk to a mental health professional or clergy.

Could Roundup exposure be linked to your non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

“Ongoing research suggests that regular exposure to glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, may increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Many patients were exposed over time through work or home use without realizing the potential health impact. If you or a loved one has received a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, you may have legal options for seeking compensation.”

Learn more about the connection between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and commonly used products like Roundup:

— Samuel Sarmiento, MD, MPH, MBA, CEO at Juniper Life Sciences
Explore Roundup Risks

Where can I find help paying for non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment?

Getting help with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment costs.

It’s important to explore non-Hodgkin lymphoma financial assistance options right away. Managing the financial burdens of the disease will help ease the stress you’re under. You may qualify for various forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma financial help.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, CancerCare and local community foundations and non-profits may offer non-Hodgkin lymphoma financial support to help you with travel expenses, co-pays, living expenses and more. They also offer financial counseling.

You may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If you can’t work, these programs can provide supplemental income.

If you’ve been exposed to pesticides like glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, you may be entitled to money from funds set aside by companies to compensate people exposed to the toxins in their products. You may also qualify for a lawsuit that could bring you justice and a settlement that can help you pay for non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment costs and more. Learn more about your rights and filing a Roundup lawsuit.

FAQs

  • What are the typical out-of-pocket expenses for treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

    You will need cash for deductions before insurance starts paying. You also have co-pays, and may need coinsurance. Your plan may have caps on what it will pay in a given year. You may need special pre-approvals for new and expensive treatments. Most policies also include a maximum out-of-pocket amount.

    It’s vital that you read your health insurance coverage documents in detail and get help to understand each point, if needed. Common expenses not covered by insurance include expenses for travel, caregivers, assistive devices and more.

  • When are you expected to pay for non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatments?

    It’s common to pay some upfront costs for non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatments. Expect to pay for scheduled treatments, like chemotherapy, imaging and specialist visits, in advance. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma surgery usually requires payment ahead of time as well. Co-pays or some of your deductible must be paid before treatment starts.

    In emergencies, you’ll be billed after your treatment or hospitalization. This is why it’s important to line up non-Hodgkin lymphoma financial assistance and explore your legal options right away.

  • Should I keep records of my non-Hodgkin lymphoma bills?

    Yes, you should keep and organize all of your medical bills, insurance statements and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses. You may also want to create a spreadsheet to help you track your expenses.

    Good record-keeping will help you find errors and resolve billing disputes. You also need good records to apply for financial help or to draw from non-Hodgkin lymphoma funds. If you make a legal claim or need additional kinds of non-Hodgkin lymphoma financial support, documentation is vital.

  • How much are non-Hodgkin lymphoma clinical trials?

    Non-Hodgkin lymphoma clinical trial treatment is usually free to you. The company sponsoring the trial often pays for your treatment. There are some exceptions, so get as much information in writing as possible and go through it carefully so that you understand each element of the care plan.

    You may still need to pay for routine care, lab tests, imaging or scans and hospital stays. Some clinical trials cover some travel and care expenses and may even offer a stipend, which is a cash payment. Talk to the study coordinator and a financial counselor before you enroll.

Meet the experts behind the article

Lisa Merriam
Lisa Merriam

Written by:

Lisa Merriam

Lisa Merriam is an experienced copywriter specializing in medical content, combining technical precision with clarity to ensure articles are accessible and accurate.

Read more
Samuel Sarmiento, MD, MPH, MBA
Dr. Samuel Sarmiento

Medical review by:

Samuel Sarmiento, MD, MPH, MBA

Dr. Sarmiento is a physician, consultant, and entrepreneur with a diverse background in surgery, public health, and business. His experience includes solving complex problems in healthcare and beyond, with a strong focus on personalized, preventive medicine.

Read more
Sean Duddy, JD
Sean Duddy

Legal review by:

Sean Duddy, JD

Sean Duddy is a seasoned attorney with a strong background in technology and litigation. He specializes in mass torts and class action cases. He is recognized for his innovative approach to legal challenges, having developed platforms to manage large-scale arbitrations and secure substantial settlements.

Read more