Congress: Stop surprise bills for seniors

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Dear [Decision Maker],

As your constituent and a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network I ask that you work with your colleagues to ensure that seniors on Medicare have access to colorectal cancer screening without any surprise out-of-pocket costs.

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This year, over 140,000 new colorectal cancer cases will be diagnosed and more than 50,000 deaths will occur. Medicare covers screening colonoscopy without any cost-sharing. However, if a polyp is found and removed during the screening, the senior will wake up to a surprise bill. Colorectal cancer is unique in that a person can be spared the agony and pain of cancer treatment if a polyp is found early.  The whole point of a screening colonoscopy is to find polyps and remove them.  Unfortunately, because of a technical glitch, Medicare continues to charge seniors the 20 percent coinsurance.

Therefore, we should embrace policies to reduce cost-sharing so that we reduce the incidence and deaths associated with colorectal cancer as well as control costs of colorectal cancer treatment to the Medicare program.

Right now, seniors who go in for a screening colonoscopy expect that the procedure is free.  However, if a polyp is found and removed these seniors get a big surprise when they wake up from the procedure.  Suddenly, they have to pay 20 percent coinsurance on the screening colonoscopy (patient cost could be more than $300). It is simply unfair that seniors on Medicare will get this surprise bill while those on private insurance will not.

Congress needs to fix this loophole this year. I therefore ask that you work with your colleagues to save lives by acting to close this loophole.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]