Published on October 13, 2017
Updated on December 7, 2017
Prevent Cancer Foundation® releases statement on the president’s recent actions on health care
October 13, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Berry
703-519-2107
Lisa.Berry@preventcancer.org
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – President Trump has made several moves to reform the health care system after previous efforts stalled in Congress.
The president today announced he would immediately end subsidies offered to insurers. These subsidies help lower copays and deductibles for people with modest incomes. Without the guarantee of financial assistance, there will be a spike in premiums for next year unless the president reverses course or Congress authorizes the money.
On Thursday the president signed an executive order loosening restrictions on association health insurance plans, which allow small businesses and individuals to band together to purchase small group coverage for themselves and their employees. Additionally, the order allows insurers to sell short-term plans that don’t meet consumer protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), such as essential health benefits for things like cancer screenings and vaccinations, as well as coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® believes in access to health care for all Americans, particularly those with pre-existing conditions, as well as access to preventive services that are proven to save lives and would save millions of dollars in health care expenses.
While the actions of the Trump administration do not directly amend the ACA or the Prevention and Public Health Fund, they do impact its implementation by creating red tape that can delay or prevent millions of at-risk Americans from accessing services that save lives. Eliminating subsidies to insurers creates additional financial barriers that make it significantly harder for low-income individuals to afford care—many of whom are already at higher risk of cancer.
The Foundation urges bi-partisan negotiation and solutions to create a system in which everyone has access to the preventive services and care they need without the insecurity and fear of losing coverage while they are in treatment or at risk of receiving a cancer diagnosis.
About The Prevent Cancer Foundation®
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is one of the nation’s leading voluntary health organizations and the only U.S. nonprofit focused solely on cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, it has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence and fulfills its mission through research, education, outreach and advocacy across the country.
For more information, please visit preventcancer.org.
