CHEYENNE, Wyo. –– To mark Medicaid Awareness Month, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is shining a bright light on what expanding eligibility for the state’s Medicaid program would mean for Wyoming families in the fight against cancer. Wyoming remains one of only 10 states without Medicaid expansion.
"Cancer transcends political lines, affecting all Wyomingites regardless of affiliation," said Kristin Page-Nei, ACS CAN Wyoming Government Relations Director. "The impact of cancer cannot be overstated and expanding Medicaid presents a proven avenue to confront this formidable challenge head-on, offering hardworking families the vital, affordable care they urgently need."
Simply having coverage is one of the largest determining factors for survivorship against cancer. Research continues to show that cancer patients living in states with lower income Medicaid eligibility limits see significantly worse survival rates for most cancer in comparison to states with higher limits.
One in 30 Wyoming residents fall within the coverage gap and potentially face one of the biggest barriers to receive their critical screenings: cost. Individuals who fall within “the coverage gap” -- making too much to qualify for Medicaid and too little to afford private insurance -- are more likely to detect cancer at a later stage when survivorship is less likely and treatment is more expensive, and sometimes forced to forgo treatment altogether.
Cancer continues to be one of the costliest diseases to treat as evidenced by surveys that have found that a majority of cancer patients and survivors have accrued medical debt. This year alone, nearly 3,320 Wyomingites will be diagnosed with cancer – too many of whom will be uninsured when they receive the devastating news. Those unsure if they qualify for Medicaid or if they qualify for an affordable plan in the next period should visit Enroll Wyoming at https://enrollwyo.org/.