Almost everyone who visits Daily Kos at some point has been touched by cancer. Whether it is a friend, a family member, a spouse or themselves odds are you know someone who experienced this terrible situation.
While we send good thoughts to Senator McCain, we should remember that 1.6 Million Americans this year so far have been diagnosed with some form of cancer. Young or old, this disease changes the track for many American families.
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The 32-year-old Oakland resident credits her survival to the ACA. Without it, “I would likely be dead, and my family would likely be bankrupt from trying to save me,” she said. Her greatest concern is that Republican assaults on the law will imperil that coverage.
“For cancer survivors, we literally live and die by insurance,” Walton said.
As the battle over the law escalates, cancer patients and survivors are among the most vocal of groups raising alarms about the GOP’s repeal effort. They are calling congressional offices and showing up at their representatives’ town hall meetings with angst-filled stories about a pre-ACA world in which they couldn’t get individual health plans because of their medical histories.
For many, the change in the ACA for pre-existing conditions was a life changer. While we talk about the increase in premiums or deductibles, individuals who had cancer but were able to get insurance again, especially those who went through cancer, knew that there was a shield for them and their family in case cancer returned.
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As a doctor, I have seen the unprecedented uncertainty my patients and their loved ones face when I confirm a cancer diagnosis. Decisions have to be made — often quickly. What is the best treatment path? What will the next weeks and months look like? Will I be able to work? How will my family cope? My personal journey after my husband’s diagnosis made me more acutely aware that despite tremendous advances in detecting, diagnosing and treating cancer, uncertainty remains a potent side effect of the disease.
Now imagine adding on worry and confusion over what may happen next with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) repair or repeal, the fate of the faltering insurance exchanges, and how all these uncertainties may affect your ability to access care. Will you continue to have health coverage? Will you be able to afford the cost of your care? And if not, will you have to stop lifesaving treatment?
I wish John McCain all the best. I hope this public brush with cancer reminds us of the fragility we all face. I hope it reminds us that millions of Americans, many who are not financially prepared for the burden, face this terrible disease today.