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New Report: Cancer Survivors Face High Costs of Care and Debt Years After Treatment

... recurrence or secondary cancers, ongoing side effects from their initial cancer treatment, late and long-term side effects, and mental health care needs. Research shows cancer survivors have higher annual out-of-pocket health care costs and carry more cancer-related medical debt than people who have not had cancer. “The end of cancer treatment, unfortunately, is ...

Report: Complex Medicare Appeals Process Leaves Patients at Risk for Delayed or Denied Care

Washington, D.C.— As millions of seniors and other enrollees select their 2021 Medicare health benefits during annual open enrollment, a new report details just how confusing the program’s appeals process can be should a patient need to appeal a claim denial for health care services or prescription drugs. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) report examines the myriad complex steps, ...

Letter: Cancer Advocates Urge House Leadership to Refrain from Tying Debt Limit Proposal to Problematic Public Health Provisions

... Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries detailing concerns on provisions in the Limit, Save and Grow Act that would restrict access to affordable health care and risk progress in cancer research.   The following is a statement from ACS CAN President, Lisa A. Lacasse:  “On behalf of the cancer ... the Act and the adverse impact it will have on those we represent.  Medicaid Work Requirements  “Ensuring access to meaningful, affordable health insurance is one of the most significant ways we can make strides in the fight against cancer. We know Medicaid supports employment by ...

Proposed Extension of Short-Term Health Plans Could Mean a Roll Back of Critical Patient Protections

Washington, D.C.—As directed by the president’s executive order, the Departments of Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule today allowing temporary short-term catastrophic health insurance plans to be sold for as long as 364 days, and with the potential to be extended indefinitely. Currently, such plans can be ... meaningful coverage.  Permitting plans to be renewed indefinitely would likely result in more people struggling with unexpected health care bills and insufficient insurance. “ACS CAN will continue to make clear the risks to patients and survivors of a divided and potentially ...

House Stimulus Package Would Expand Access to Health Coverage, Provide Relief for Nonprofits that Serve Patients

... the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Heroes Act, a package of legislative proposals aimed at addressing numerous pandemic-related health, research and economic relief needs. Included in the bill are several provisions that would make it easier for Americans to maintain or gain health insurance coverage, including; a special enrollment period for private coverage through the federal health exchange, subsidies to cover the ... have lost their jobs and their employer-sponsored health insurance. Many others were uninsured when this pandemic hit and need access to care. Providing subsides to help people keep their health plans, allowing a special enrollment period for those who want to obtain coverage, and ...

ACS CAN Joins Leading Patient Advocacy Groups at Ohio Event Urging Lawmakers to Protect Patients First in National Health Reform

... Federation of American Hospitals, the March of Dimes and AARP Advocates. The event highlighted the concerns that Ohioans have regarding national health care reforms, including the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which has already passed the House and is now being considered by the Senate. The groups discussed AHCA’s many ...

Proposed Short-Term Health Plan Rule Would Weaken Patient Protections and Split Insurance Market

Washington, D.C.— Today the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on proposed changes to rules governing short-term, limited duration insurance plans (STLD). The comments detail how ... meaningful or affordable coverage choices. As proposed, short-term plans would be able to deny or charge people more for coverage based on their health status, would be exempt from covering essential health services, like prescription drugs or hospitalization, and could charge older people ... because such plans could charge older people more than the current 3 to 1 limit, “older individuals would face significantly higher health care premiums or be priced out of the market entirely.” This is especially concerning considering the incidence of cancer increases with age. ...

House Stimulus Package Would Expand Access to Health Coverage, Increase Medicaid Funding and Eliminate Medicare Patients’ COVID Costs

... he  U.S. House of Representatives will   vote  tonight  on a package of legislative proposals aimed at addressing numerous pandemic-related health, research and economic relief needs.  T he bill  includes  provisions that would  create a  two - month  special enrollment period for  people who are uninsured to enroll in  private  health  coverage through the federal health  exchange ,  and   provide an  increase in federal  Medicaid  funding  to  support ... frightening during a pandemic.   The special enrollment period and increase d  Medicaid funding will help ensure more people can get the care they need when they need it.   “ Eliminating COVID-19 associated cost   sharing for Medicare enrollees ,  including for any possible ...

Federal agency considering proposal that could raise cost of health coverage for cancer patients and survivors

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently considering a proposal that could significantly increase the cost of health care for cancer patients and survivors. The proposal would allow insurance companies to expand the sale of a niche insurance product called ...

Tobacco Use Among U.S. Veterans is Nearly Double the National Average; Legislation Could Help Lessen Health Burden

... help reduce that burden is through implementation of comprehensive smoke-free environments. A bill (H.R. 1848  and S.2119 ) making all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities smoke-free passed the House last spring.  We urge the Senate to pass its bill (S. 2119) as soon as ... all VHA facilities would ensure sick and disabled veterans are no longer subjected to the dangers of secondhand smoke while receiving medical care and would provide a more supportive environment for veterans who are trying to quit tobacco use to do so successfully. “Tobacco use remains ... for these individuals who have sacrificed their lives to protect and defend Americans. As a nation we must do more to improve and protect the health of our veterans, especially from the dangers of tobacco use. Providing a smoke-free VHA system is an important step in the right ...

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