Congress: Include critical health care provisions in the next COVID relief package

Recipients

Your Senators
Your Representative

Contact

*Required fields

* Title:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Your Email:

* Address 1:

* City:

* State / Province:

* ZIP / Postal Code:

* Phone Number:

Congress requires a phone number in order to submit your comments.

Yes, I would like to receive periodic updates and communications from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Remember me. What's this?

Message

* Subject:

Dear [Decision Maker],

As a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, I am writing to ask that you work to incorporate the following priorities in upcoming legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical that Congress ensure that cancer research continues, that people can afford and access adequate health insurance coverage, and that charities are able to continue their critical work during the pandemic.

* Personalize your message

Health Insurance Coverage: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for adequate, affordable, and accessible health insurance coverage for all people in the United States, including cancer patients. Research shows that access to comprehensive health insurance means access to timely, medically necessary health care, and unfortunately due to the current economic downturn, many people are at risk of losing their health insurance if they lose their jobs. Please include provisions in the COVID-19 legislation that help people who lose their jobs afford their health insurance premiums, including federally funded subsidies for COBRA coverage and ACA marketplace subsidies for people who receive unemployment insurance. Please also help more individuals afford health insurance coverage by making ACA marketplace subsidies more generous and end the middle-class subsidies cliff.

Research: The impact of COVID-19 on cancer research is severe, and relief is needed to address both short- and long-term impacts on labs, researchers, and clinical trials. The unforeseen costs associated with the pandemic have been a substantial burden to an already overburdened medical system. NCI-designated cancer centers across the country report that the number of individuals enrolling in cancer clinical trials is down by about half from a year ago. Substantial costs have been incurred during the shut-down, and there will be significant costs for the ramp-up of research activities and clinical trials. Please work with your colleagues to provide the NIH with at least $10 billion to restore the research ecosystem and clinical trials, so we can continue to make progress in the fight against cancer and other diseases.

Nonprofit Sector Stimulus: At a time when Americans need support from charities to weather and recover from the pandemic, the American Cancer Society has seen a decline in donations and fundraising, resulting in a direct impact on our ability to advance critical research and support those affected by cancer. Without help, many charities will be unable to provide services critical to surviving historic health and economic upheaval. Please work with your colleagues in Congress and the Administration to establish grant and funding programs, such as a nonprofit Paycheck Protection Program, that would provide forgivable loans to nonprofits of all sizes and without regard to gross receipts. Please also work to increase the federal unemployment insurance reimbursement for self-insured or reimbursing nonprofits to 100% of costs retroactively to 2020 and extend the relief through the first three quarters of 2021.

Thank you for considering my requests, and for all you do for people with cancer, survivors, and people at risk of cancer.

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