Dear Catherine,
This Friday, the federal government faces a shutdown unless Congress approves a spending bill to keep the government running.
With time running out, lawmakers are looking for cuts and compromises to secure enough votes to pass the measure. House Republicans are considering cuts to funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA)-specifically the cost-sharing subsidies within the ACA. We need your help to communicate to Congress that cuts to patient care and funding are unacceptable.
Cost sharing subsidies were created to help patients who earn up to 250 percent of the federal poverty line (about $30,000 for one person) afford the copays (the fixed amount patients pay out of pocket for medical services) and deductibles (the amount of money patients have to pay out-of-pocket before their plan pays the remainder of their medical expenses). Elimination of these subsidies would dramatically increase out-of-pocket spending for many low- and moderate-income Americans who signed up for health care in the ACA marketplace.
In 2012 alone, 12.2 million people purchased health insurance coverage through the ACA marketplace and 58 percent (7.1 million people) receive cost-sharing reductions. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that subsidies lowered combined medical and prescription drug deductibles by as much as $3,354 and reduce annual out-of-pocket maximums by up to $5,587.
We need your help to let Congress know that the critical importance of cost-sharing reductions is not up for negotiation. Contact your Members of Congress TODAY, and let them know that you support continued funding of cost-sharing subsidies and health care that protects the needs of patients.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Franklin
Senior Director, Policy & Advocacy
Cancer Support Community
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