Supreme Court ruling preserves critical patient protections for families affected by cancer

American Cancer Society says Illinois should finalize implementation of health care law to benefit cancer patients, survivors and families

[June 29, 2012]  CHICAGO -- Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of provisions of the Affordable Care Act that are critical, according to the American Cancer Society, to ensuring that people with cancer and other life-threatening chronic diseases can access quality, affordable health care.

The decision ensures that critical patient protections benefiting cancer patients and survivors will be implemented, such as those prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage to people with a pre-existing condition, requiring insurers to provide consumers with easy-to-understand summaries about their coverage, and requiring health plans in the individual market to offer essential benefits needed to prevent and treat a serious condition such as cancer.

"The ruling is a victory for people with cancer and their families nationwide, who for decades have been denied health coverage, charged far more than they can afford for lifesaving care and forced to spend their life savings on necessary treatment, simply because they have a pre-existing condition," said John R. Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

The ruling preserves vital provisions that are already improving the ability of people with cancer and their families to access needed care by ensuring that proven preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies are offered at no cost to patients, eliminating arbitrary dollar limits on coverage that can suddenly terminate care, and prohibiting insurance companies from unfairly revoking coverage when a person gets sick.

In Illinois, and in every state across the country, patients will have access to an online marketplace, or exchange, where they can easily compare quality health plans and choose the one that is best for them and their families.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is reviewing the court's ruling on Medicaid but is concerned that the decision may limit the expansion of quality coverage to some of our nation's most vulnerable citizens. The network hopes the decision will ultimately ensure access to quality health coverage through Medicaid for all low-income and disabled Americans with cancer or at risk for cancer. In Illinois, an additional 631,024 people could be newly eligible for Medicaid enrollment. For many hardworking Americans who have lost their health insurance because they are too ill to work or who have exhausted their savings, Medicaid coverage will provide critical access to proven preventive services and lifesaving treatments.

"Access to care saves lives. Scientific research from the American Cancer Society has shown that people without health coverage are more likely than those with private insurance to be diagnosed with cancer at its more advanced stages and less likely to survive the disease," said Katherine L. Griem, M.D., president of the American Cancer Society's Illinois Division. "Now that the Supreme Court has ruled, it is time for all of our elected officials in Illinois to work together in a bipartisan effort to implement the health care law as strongly as possible for cancer patients, survivors and their families."

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To learn more about the American Cancer Society or if you or someone you know has cancer, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org for help.

[Text from file received from the American Cancer Society, Illinois Division]