To the editor:
As Congressman Bennie Thompson considers the future of the Affordable Care Act, it is critically important that cancer patients, survivors and those at risk of the disease don’t face any gap in coverage of prevention and treatment.
American Cancer Society research has shown that the uninsured and underinsured are more likely than those with insurance to be diagnosed with cancer at its more advanced stages when treatment is more expensive and patients are more likely to die from the disease.
More than 30 million people including many cancer patients and survivors now have insurance thanks to the current law.
Any replacement plan should stabilize and hopefully increase the number of insured Americans.
Congressman Thompson, as you consider proposals to repeal and replace the current health care law, please remember that cancer patients, survivors and their families in Mississippi are counting on you to ensure continuous access to health coverage.
Pearl W. Carter
2nd Congressional District Lead Volunteer
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
Vicksburg