The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently considering a proposal that could significantly increase the cost of health care for cancer patients and survivors.
The proposal would allow insurance companies to expand the sale of a niche insurance product called short-term health plans.
This type of plan allows insurance companies to:
Because these plans cover far fewer benefits, they are often less expensive and are more attractive to healthy, young people who may only need minimal coverage. For others, like cancer patients and survivors, who need prescription drug coverage and other health benefits, these plans wouldn’t be an option.
As more healthy people sign up for the short-term plans, the costs for those who need comprehensive coverage – people like cancer survivors and patients - could skyrocket as the insurance companies try to recoup costs of covering sicker, older customers.
The proposal is bad for cancer patients and survivors and would potentially weaken patient protections by limiting cancer patients’ access to affordable health coverage.