WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Oct. 9, 2009 -- Critical legislation taking effect today will protect full-time college students from losing their health insurance in the event of a serious medical condition. Michelle’s Law, signed by former President Bush one year ago, allows college students to take up to 12 months of medical leave from school without the risk of being dropped from a parent's health insurance plan.
The law is named after Michelle Morse, who was a student at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire when she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003. Despite her doctor’s recommendation to leave school while undergoing debilitating chemotherapy, she was forced to remain a full-time student so she could stay on her family’s insurance. She ultimately lost her battle to the disease.
“Michelle’s Law will prevent other families from having to walk in our shoes, watching their college student fight for their health coverage while fighting for their life,” said AnnMarie Morse, Michelle’s mother and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteer. “Michelle’s Law plugged one hole, but the health care system has many more problems that leave too many people struggling to access and afford the care they need.”
AnnMarie Morse worked tirelessly with the help of the American Cancer Society to first pass Michelle’s Law in New Hampshire in 2006. She then worked with the Society’s advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN, to pass the law at the federal level last year. She has now expanded her fight in her daughter’s memory, working to urge Congress to act NOW, not later, to pass meaningful health care reform.
“We will not realize our full potential to eliminate death and suffering from cancer in this country unless all Americans have access to adequate, affordable health care,” said John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., chief executive of the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN. “Congress must put patients before politics and pass reform that refocuses the system on prevention, guarantees access to adequate coverage, and spares cancer patients the choice of saving their lives or their lifesavings.”
The major congressional health care reform bills represent a significant improvement for people fighting cancer or other chronic diseases. In their current form, the bills would ensure that no one will be denied coverage or charged a higher premium because of pre-existing medical conditions, place an increased emphasis on prevention and eliminate annual and lifetime dollar caps on benefits. ACS CAN will continue to advocate for additional improvements to the affordability provisions as the bills move to floor votes in the coming weeks.
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers, candidates and government officials to support laws and policies that will make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer. For more information, visit https://www.fightcancer.org/.
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Alissa Havens
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Steven Weiss
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