North Carolina Action Center

We have some of the best health care in the world, but for many years that care has gone to fewer and fewer people who can afford it.  Cancer patients and survivors are denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions.  They have to pay more than they can afford for the care they need and they pay for health insurance that does not cover lifesaving cancer screenings, treatments or follow-up care.

Many people with cancer live in fear of losing their health coverage if they lose their job.  They worry about having their coverage canceled because they got sick or they face limits on the amount of care their health plan will cover.  Many other people who are happy with their coverage would face these same problems if they were diagnosed with cancer.

The Affordable Care Act is improving the quality and cost of health care in the United States for people with cancer and those at risk for cancer.  The law is not perfect, but it will make health care more adequate, affordable and available.  In addition, it will be easier to administer for cancer patients, survivors and their families.  Click here to view the implementation timeline of the new benefits that will assist in the fight against cancer.

Inadequate access to timely, quality health care is one of the greatest barriers to winning the war on cancer. Individuals and families who lack meaningful insurance often go without preventive care despite research showing that early detection and timely treatment are effective in improving outcomes. Those who are uninsured and underinsured are less likely to receive cancer prevention services, more likely to be treated for cancer at late stages of disease, more likely to receive substandard care and services, and more likely to die from cancer.  Click here to view the “Cost of Doing Nothing in North Carolina.”

Click here to read personal stories that were taken from actual phone calls to the American Cancer Society’s National Cancer Information Center (NCIC) and illustrate the shortcoming of our current system in each of these areas. Cancer is a universal health concern, and cancer patients know firsthand the gaps in our health care system, as demonstrated below. (Identifying information in the stories has been changed for privacy reasons.)

Click here for some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) on Health Care Reform.

There have been a lot of myths going around on Health Care Reform.  Click here to see the Myths vs. Realities on this issue.

The Affordable Care Act will save lives from cancer.