White House, Congress Pledge to Strengthen Prohibition on Coverage Limits in Health Care Reform

Statement of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN

WASHINGTON, DC -- December 11, 2009 -- “People with cancer are very encouraged that their concerns have been heard about a provision currently in the Senate health care reform bill that could subject patients to a sudden termination of coverage for critical care. After discussions with senior White House and Congressional staff this afternoon, we are confident that our concerns will be resolved and the bill strengthened.

“The Senate bill prohibits insurers from establishing ‘unreasonable’ annual limits on coverage and gives the Treasury Secretary the authority to define what that means. As cancer patients and survivors know, the definition of ‘unreasonable’ may differ dramatically depending on whether a person is healthy or in active treatment for cancer. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) has expressed concern that a vague ‘unreasonable’ standard would leave people with cancer at risk of having their care cut off when they need it most.

“We are working with the White House and Congress to strengthen the Senate bill by eliminating annual limits on benefits and preserving the bill’s existing ban on lifetime limits. This improvement will ensure that people with cancer and other life-threatening diseases receive quality coverage that provides access to the care they need, when they need it.

“The Senate bill would improve the health care system for people with cancer by guaranteeing coverage, eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions, elevating the emphasis on disease prevention and focusing on patients’ quality of life. As the leading voice of patients in the health care debate, ACS CAN is working to improve the bill so that final health care reform legislation provides quality, affordable care.”

For more information about ACS CAN’s efforts in support of health care reform, visit www.acscan.org.

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.  ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.acscan.org.

###