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Medical Debt and Cancer
... with cancer, their caregivers and their families. ACS CAN has long fought for public policies – like access to comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage – that reduce the likelihood or severity of that debt. Unfortunately, many Americans remain uninsured or underinsured ... and even those with comprehensive coverage can still incur significant medical debt. 1,2 People with cancer often bear significant health care costs because they can have substantial health care needs, are high utilizers of health care services, use many different providers, ...
Out-of-Pocket Spending Limits Are Crucial for Cancer Patients & Survivors
Many patients with complex diseases like cancer find it difficult to afford their treatments – even when they have health insurance. Current law establishes a limit on what most private insurance plans can require enrollees to pay in out-of-pocket costs. [1] These limits protect patients from extremely high costs and are essential to any health care system that works for cancer patients and survivors. What is a Maximum Out-of-Pocket Limit (MOOP)? Out-of-pocket costs are the costs enrollees ...
Gaps in Coverage Are Detrimental to Cancer Patients & Survivors
Current federal law has several provisions that help prevent individuals and families from experiencing gaps in their health insurance coverage. Coverage gaps can delay necessary care, which is particularly detrimental to cancer patients and survivors. Preventing gaps in coverage is a crucial patient protection that must be maintained in our health care and insurance system. Why Do People Experience Gaps in Coverage? Individuals experience gaps in health insurance coverage that range ...
Survivor Views: Majority of Cancer Patients & Survivors Have or Expect to Have Medical Debt
... their cancer for more than three years. Nearly all (98%) were insured at the time when the debt was incurred, most commonly by a high deductible health plan without a health savings account (34%). The health implications are significant: those with cancer-related medical debt are three times more likely to be ... cancer screenings (18% vs 5%), 27% of those with cancer-related medical debt have gone without adequate food, and 25% have skipped or delayed care. The financial consequences of cancer-related medical debt can also be significant: nearly half (49%) saw their credit scores decrease and 30% ...
Some Insurance Plans Come with Higher Patient Costs
The Problem The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped individuals with pre-existing conditions like cancer access comprehensive health insurance and afford their care. But the law is at risk of being dismantled. The risks of losing ACA protections are clear when you look at current plans that do not have to ...
Survivor Views: Affordability, Prescription Drugs, & Pain
... CAN’s public policy work at all levels of government. Fielded October 22-November 19, 2021, the latest survey explores the affordability of health care for cancer patients and survivors, prescription drugs, and pain management. The web-based survey was conducted among 1,248 patients and ... the prescription drugs and treatments associated with their care. Over 80% of cancer patients and survivors have taken steps to address their health care costs, with the plurality (44%) taking money out of savings to pay for their health care and 36% accumulating credit card debt to pay ...
Strong Prevention Policies Will Reduce the Cancer Burden
... with no cost sharing for pregnant women, and are also required to cover tobacco cessation medications for all adults. Prevention and Public Health Fund : This fund creates and sustains national investment in prevention and public health programs to improve health and lower health care costs. It has funded successful initiatives such as the Tips from Former Smokers media campaign and the National Breast and Cervical Cancer ...