Vote "No" on the American Health Care Act (AHCA)
The Cancer Support Community (CSC) remains concerned about the burden that AHCA would place on individuals living with cancer and people who have historically been underserved by the health care system. The current proposed draft is extremely problematic for the cancer community as it targets those with preexisting conditions, potentially putting them in high risk-pools with no affordable option for insurance.
In addition to the provisions of the original AHCA such as repealing the Medicaid expansion, replacing subsidies with tax credits, and eliminating the mandate for insurance coverage, the new MacArthur amendment would further harm patients. Under this amendment, states would be able to apply for waivers allowing them to:
- Opt out of ACA's federal regulations on essential health benefits(which provide a basic set of minimum health care requirements) and,
- Eliminate Community rating requirements (which prevent insurers from varying premiums based on health status, age, gender, and other characteristics).
From the Brookings Institute analysis of the MacArthur amendment, they say specifically that "the amendment's provision allowing states to set their own definition of essential health benefits would not only seriously disrupt the individual market, but could also undermine the Affordable Care Act's ban on annual and lifetime limits and its requirement that plans cap annual out-of-pocket spending for people in employer coverage."
For more information on CSC's essential health care principals please visit CSC's Health Care Principles for Individuals Impacted by Cancer.
Sincerely,
Kristen Cox-Santiago
Senior Director, Policy & Advocacy
Cancer Support Community
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