Cancer Patients: How Healthcare Insurance Reform Affects You
The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance held a seminar on Healthcare Insurance Reform and its impact on women, but especially focused on the ovarian cancer community. There has been so much confusion with the legislation, political posturing and stakeholder screaming that it’s impossible to know what to believe. Fortunately, I learned that once you clear away all the smoke, it all boils down to a few fundamental issues.
First, the reform is directed at insurance practices and laws, not the care itself. As a seasoned patient, I’m pretty satisfied with the quality of healthcare I receive. From doctors to medicine, I trust that I’m able to access whatever is available to deal with my disease.
According the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, the problems with the health insurance system in this country are:
1. Cost is way too high and getting higher. This pertains to non-company plans, COBRA and co-pays, particularly for those with a cancer history.
2. Industry practices are not always fair, including arbitrary decisions about pre-existing conditions, non-coverage of treatment, exclusion of medications or treatments, and outright denial of service.
3. Gender rating, a shocking discrimination, is allowed in 40 states where health insurers calculate premiums for consumers based on gender. Women can pay as much as 40 percent more than men for the same health plan under gender rating because women are more likely to go to the doctor when they are sick, and some may need maternity care.
What the Alliance is seeking in the legislation is:
• Coverage that is available and affordable
• Coverage that is portable
• Care that is high quality
• Care that is patient-centered
• Creation of national high risk pools for those who have been denied or cannot afford insurance
• Provision of subsidies
• Elimination of annual and life time caps (particularly important to those with chronic illness)
• Elimination of pre-existing condition clauses
• Creation of state level Health Insurance Exchanges
• Elimination of gender rating
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add a Comment2 Comments
this is a great background on healthcare reform, thanks
February 24, 2010 - 2:12pmThis Comment
Annette- Thank you for this concise, easy-to-follow report on healthcare reform issues and the specific concerns of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. It's much easier to understand than a lot of other articles I've read, and I appreciate what you've done.
While the Congress is dealing with health reform on a national level, there are often other activities taking place at a state level that impact healthcare delivery to patients. The insurance company lobbyists have a strong influence on those laws, just as they have on national legislation. For those who are able to do so, it can be rewarding and empowering to get involved with local cancer organizations to provide support when it's needed to protect patient rights. State actions are a bit off the radar right now, and they should be on ours.
February 24, 2010 - 6:23pmTake care, Pat