Discussion: Should the doctor tell the patient they are not receiving the best treatment because it is an expensive treatment that their insurance coverage does not provide?

It is essential to emphasize that this issue concerns many cases. The patient retrospectively discovers that there is a more appropriate but expensive treatment. The patient must know even if the decision would not have changed without resources.

Medicine lives on limited resources, and everything is calculated and budgeted. Most patients know they are not covered against all health risks. However, in my opinion, the doctor must define the recommended treatment in the absence of budget constraints. Nevertheless, this may be annoying, outrageous, and even depressing. When the patient cannot afford expensive treatment, the doctor must prioritize the possible treatments within the budget.