| The American Cancer Society has weighed in on | | | | health insurance, are underinsured. One example |
| the great American health care debate with a | | | | of this are health insurance plans that limit |
| new study that claims people without health | | | | outpatient benefits. Very expensive treatments, |
| insurance are twice as likely to pass away than | | | | like chemotherapy, are often done as outpatient |
| insured cancer patients. In fact, Dr Brawly, the | | | | procedures. Once a patient has used up a small |
| chief medical officer of the society, says that | | | | benefit, they might as well be uninsured! |
| uninsured people have a 60 percent greater | | | | Sometimes it is even worse than being uninsured, |
| chance of losing their battle with cancer. This | | | | because the presence of a group health insurance |
| study appears to prove that access to health | | | | plan, even though it has been maxed out, can |
| care is a significant factor in survival. However | | | | interfere with qualifying for state high risk benefits |
| just what sort of health care is difficult for the | | | | in some states. |
| uninsured to access? | | | | This link, between survival and access to health |
| The first problem is probably that the uninsured | | | | care, is very striking for cancers that can be |
| do not have access to screenings. We have been | | | | prevented or treated if they are detected early. |
| told for years that early detection is critical to | | | | Breast cancer and colon cancer are examples of |
| survival for many types of cancer. So uninsured | | | | these diseases. Some uninsured people may even |
| people probably get presented for treatment | | | | avoid tests because they do not want to label |
| after the disease has progressed, and this makes | | | | themselves as uninsurable in the future. |
| a favorable outcome less likely. Secondly, | | | | While the debate continues about health care |
| uninsured people will probably not be able to take | | | | reform, nobody is holding their breath for a quick |
| advantage of the best treatment centers, but | | | | answer. And while some people may criticize the |
| may have to use facilities that are already | | | | uninsured because they fail to protect their health, |
| overwhelmed. | | | | nobody thinks that a death sentence is |
| And just looking at the totally uninsured does not | | | | appropriate punishment either! |
| tell the whole story. Many people, even with group | | | | |