Statement from Russ Sciandra, NYS Director of Advocacy, American Cancer Society of
NY & NJ, regarding Gov. Cuomo’s health insurance exchange proposal as included in the State of the State package
“For 2.9 million uninsured New Yorkers, the state’s health insurance exchange will provide the means to survive a serious illness while avoiding financial ruin. Over the past few years, New York has seen an increase in the number of uninsured. In 2005, 12 percent of residents lacked health insurance; by 2010 that number jumped to 15 percent.
The exchange will be the marketplace where uninsured individuals and small businesses obtain health insurance, as required by the federal health care reform law. We’re encouraged that the Gov. recognizes the value of the exchange and is committed to the creation of an easily accessible venue where people can buy quality, affordable health coverage.
To create an exchange with the best interest of patients in mind, those entrusted with running the exchange must have the purest of motives – healthier New Yorkers, not fatter wallets. We’re cautiously optimistic about the development of a health insurance exchange framework, but will continue to closely monitor the process to ensure there are no conflicts of interest for members of the exchange governing board.
The American Cancer Society thanks Gov. Cuomo for making the exchange a priority and we have been encouraged by the support in the Assembly, which passed an exchange bill last year. We urge lawmakers to enact legislation to create the exchange as soon as possible.”
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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.