Congress: Affordable Cancer Care is Past Due

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Dear [Decision Maker],

As a constituent and volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), I am writing to urge you to help people to better access affordable health care by closing the Medicaid coverage gap and extending the expansion of Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace subsidies.

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Since passage of the Affordable Care Act, 38 states and the District of Columbia have expanded eligibility for Medicaid to all people in their states with low incomes. But 12 states still have not expanded their programs. As a result, an estimated 2.2 million low-income adults who would benefit from Medicaid if their state expanded coverage are now in the "coverage gap," uninsured and unable to access affordable health insurance. Research shows that Medicaid expansion helps improve cancer outcomes, reduces health inequities, and lessens the burden of cancer by offering access to prevention services, timely cancer screening, and early detection services. Please work to provide sustained, affordable, adequate health insurance coverage to people in the coverage gap.

The American Rescue Plan, enacted in March 2021, provided more generous subsidies for people purchasing health insurance in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. During the 2021 special enrollment period created in response to the COVID pandemic, 2.8 million Americans enrolled in health insurance coverage through these marketplaces. Those who were newly enrolled or returning enrollees after the expanded subsidies were put in place saved an average of 50% in premiums, and nearly half of healthcare.gov customers with a new plan selection were able to select plans for $10 or less per month. I hope you will work with your Congressional colleagues to make permanent the more generous subsidies provided for people buying their health coverage through the ACA marketplaces. This is critically important for people with cancer, people at risk of cancer, and survivors.

Thank you for considering these requests, and for all you do for people with cancer and their families.

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