FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 1, 2010
Contact: Erikka Knuti (202) 603-4600; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Health Reform Law Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention
Washington, D.C. – Honoring the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Health Information Center (HIC), calls attention to the ways the new health care law helps women in the fight against breast cancer. The law provides education, prevention and protection for all women, but it also specifically outlines increased support for breast cancer awareness.
"Breast cancer can be an aggressive killer, but it doesn’t have to be," said HIC Spokeswoman, Erikka Knuti. "Provisions in The Affordable Care Act will help make the difference between life and death for countless women. This law will help ensure that more women will beat cancer."
The Affordable Care Act promotes early detection, helps provide free screenings, and improves access to treatment. It contains portions of the bi-partisan Education and Awareness Requires Learning Act (EARLYAct), authored by Breast Cancer survivor Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-22). While not among the better known provisions, the law improves resources and access to care for women in the fight against this deadly disease in the following ways:
- Education and Prevention – Provides funding to provide women with early education about the risks of breast cancer, and directs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop education campaigns targeting young women, that focusing on preventions and early detection.
- Early Detection – Access to free mammograms and screenings for cancer, without being charged a deductible, copayment or coinsurance, and directs National Institutes of Health to develop new screening tests and methods to improve early detection in young women.
- Support – Includes grants to organizations the provide support for young women with breast cancer.
- Stable Care – Women no longer have to worry about being dropped from their insurance after they are diagnosed with breast cancer. No more lifetime limits on benefits means that no more worrying that you will “max out” on coverage in the course of treatments, or go bankrupt while you fight cancer. And soon survivors wil no longer be denied coverage because the cancer they beat is a pre-existing condition.
Last month, HIC launched “America’s Fair Health Care” to provide resources and information about the law’s implementation. HIC is a non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the Affordable Care Act.
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"Under new plans, no child under age 19 will be denied coverage for a pre-existing conditions, period. Adults who have been without insurance for six months and who have been unable to obtain insurance because of a pre-existing condition, can apply for coverage under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)."
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Insurers can no longer cut someone after the fact.
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New screening procedures are now in place for health care providers to eliminate fraud and waste in the health care system.
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Medicare Part D enrollees who hit the Medicare prescription drug benefit gap in 2010 will automatically receive a $250 rebate check.
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Effective immediately, qualified small employers get tax credits of up to 35% of premiums for offering coverage.
Video
America's new health care law makes it easier for you to find the quality, affordable health care that you and your family need.
