His death put a new celebrity face on the debate about rising healthcare costs in the US – an issue that Republicans and Democrats have long recognised needs reform but have disagreed on the best ways to resolve the problem.
The US has one of the most expensive health systems in the world, with spending on health care estimated to reach $5.9tn in 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
About 100 million people in the US are estimated to struggle to pay off their medical and dental healthcare debt, according to recent data.
The GoFundMe page posted online on Wednesday solicited donations to assist Van Der Beek’s widow Kimberley and their six children, whose ages range from 4 to 15.
His wife shared the page, which noted the “significant financial strain” the family had seen as they “did everything possible to support James and provide for his care”.
“In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds,” the page reads. “They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time.”
Even with health insurance, cancer treatment can prove extremely costly for those in the US. Some studies suggest the average monthly cost of chemotherapy can range from $1,000 to $12,000.
This is because in the US private health-care system, even those with insurance can face high deductibles and thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs, said Eva Stahl, the vice president of policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has paid off about $25bn of medical debt for almost 15 million people.
“People simply can’t afford vital, life-saving treatments without going into debt,” she said. “When even someone with James Van Der Beek’s resources has no option but to fundraise for treatment, it’s clear how fundamentally unfair our healthcare system is.”
Michael Short, a graphic artist in Tennessee who has had his own battles with medical debt, told the BBC that his sister has had to declare bankruptcy because of medical debt for treatments for her endometrial and another cancer, even with insurance coverage.
“It’s in the hundreds of thousands if not millions for these cancer treatments,” he said. “The prices on these medications and on these treatments are just so high.”