INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Today, cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and advocates from across the Hoosier State gathered at the Statehouse to meet with their elected officials during the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Cancer Action Day (ACS CAN). ACS CAN and Blood Cancer United volunteers let lawmakers know that Indiana can and must do better to reduce the burden of cancer by preventing patients from incurring medical debt and reducing the burden of medical debt.
“My husband and I wanted to start a family, which for us meant fertility treatments. During that time, I was also diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Heather Almager. “We had insurance throughout, but still found ourselves with over $75,000 of medical debt. To this day, I am still facing medical challenges due to my infertility and cancer journey. It’s been over a decade of bills, biopsies, physical hardship and heartbreak.”
Passing legislation to address medical debt would bring long-overdue relief to patients whose suffering is twofold—first from illness, then from the lasting financial harm that follows due to medical debt. By increasing access to financial assistance and limiting the use of harmful collection practices, we can begin to reduce the often unending negative consequences associated with disease, enabling patients to breathe easier and prioritize their health without fear of long-term financial harm.
An estimated 44,950 Hoosiers will be diagnosed with cancer, and 14,230 are expected to die from the devastating disease this year. Those gathered at the Statehouse today are calling on Indiana lawmakers to change this by prioritizing efforts to ease the fight against cancer.