Health Insurance For Cancer Patients

My name is Sharon Lane, and I am a Rare Cancer advocate and I have been one for over 10 years now. This is a volunteer job that has given me the opportunity to talk on the internet to thousands of rare cancer patients. Of course, every one of our stories is sad, but the ones that are most devastating to me are those about lack of health coverage.

I have helped several young people who opted not to get health insurance, based on their other financial responsibilities.  They assumed that they would never have a catastrophic medical condition at a young age. So, what happens when someone has no insurance and gets diagnosed with cancer? Well, first they come to organizations like mine looking for information on any financial assistance.  OftenI have to tell them that there is none. Those who are able to acquire insurance, are often denied coverage because their condition is 'pre-existing'. I know without insurance, at best they will get sub-standard care; and, at worst, they will get no care. This Mom says it so well:

That is why Hillary's plan for health care for ALL Americans is so important to me.  With this type of coverage, I would not have to tell a person, I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do to help you.  I live in the world of the catastrophically ill and uninsured.  Not a lot of people do.  So, I can understand it when people say - "We shouldn't dictate to people".  But, I can tell you, if they were still alive, I would be able to get scores of people onto this website to tell you that they wish someone had dictated to them........

Elizabeth Edwards, another cancer sister, believes that Hillary is the best person to help us: