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Cancer patients likely to be harmed by new short-term plans rule

August 1, 2018

The federal government ruled today that health insurance companies will be allowed to expand the use of “short-term” insurance plans that can deny coverage to cancer patients and survivors.

Together with our volunteers, ACS CAN has fought for months against the expansion of these short-term plans and this loss is a huge step in a wrong and dangerous direction.

The “short-term” plans can deny or charge people more for their coverage based on their health status.   They also do not have to cover essential health services, like prescription drugs or hospitalization, that cancer patients and survivors often need.  

The “short-term” plans will be attractive to younger, healthier people who will be drawn to their cheap price tag. This will create a bifurcated insurance market with cancer patients and survivors and older people left in the insurance market seeing the cost of their health insurance rise to the point that they may not be able to pay for the coverage that they need.

The plans could also harshly impact those who purchase them.

ACS CAN President Chris Hansen told the New York Times that people who buy the new cheap plans and develop cancer could “face astronomical costs” and “may be forced to forgo treatment entirely because of costs.”

Over the next 90 days, ACS CAN will be:

  • Launching a campaign to make health care a top issue in this year’s elections
  • Developing a state-by-state strategy to leverage state laws to improve access to health care
  • Advocating for the federal government to protect access to quality, affordable health care

You can support this and other ACS CAN campaigns by becoming a member of ACS CAN or by making a donation.  

“Cancer patients and survivors must have access to high-quality, affordable insurance that provides comprehensive coverage, and ACS CAN stands ready to work with state lawmakers in this effort,” said Chris Hansen.