It happens with other diseases as well. Years ago as a nurse I was working for a law firm on personal injuy cases. One of the laywers father had severe heart disease and needed surgery, or he was going to die, and time was running out. The local surgeons refused to take him to surgery because he was too high risk. They weren't sure he was going to make it through the surgery. I called and got him an appointment at NY Presbyterian, Columbia Cornell Medical Center, where they said, no he might not make it through surgery, but it is his only chance, he definitely would not make it without the surgery. So they said, of coarse we will do it. He made it through surgery and lived over 5 years longer, long enough to see his daughter married and his grandchildren born, and for them to know him. She was forever grateful for the help. People often feel helpless, they don't know how to go abou it, how to get to the specialists they need. During that time that I was working at the law firm, I worked with researchers and pathologists from the Mayo Clinic and they are top in their fields. A great place to go if you have cancer.`The out of network thing is one reason I pay the premium for highest tier of insurance my hospital offers. So I can go where I want or need to, should the need arise. Out of network will still cost more, but even though I might not have a lot of money, the money I saved is not important if I am dead. The uninsured are over a barrel. That is an awful position to be in.