Healey Signs Bill to Address Breast Cancer Screening Inequities
Legislation will eliminate costly barriers to follow up breast cancer screening
Allison Miller
Director, Media Advocacy
Washington, D.C.
More Families Could Afford Health Care Thanks to Proposed ‘Family Glitch’ Fix
April 5, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today the administration released a proposed rule that would fix the so-called ‘family glitch’ in the Affordable Care Act. If finalized, the change would allow the total premium cost of all family members covered under an employer sponsored plan to be considered when determining if the coverage is affordable rather than restricting the calculation to the cost for the employee only. If finalized, this change would make coverage on the marketplace more affordable for over 1 million people.
The administration also issued an executive order instructing federal agencies to do everything possible to expand access to affordable, quality health coverage.
A statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows:
“For years ACS CAN has been trying to fix the family glitch, so subsidy eligibility is no longer calculated based on an incomplete portion of a family’s premium costs. If finalized, this change could at long last provide a pathway for more cancer patients, survivors and their families who want and need coverage to afford it through the marketplace.
“The proposed rule is a significant step toward expanding access to care for Americans who need coverage, but more must be done. Congress should make permanent the increased subsidies that have enabled millions of people to better afford coverage on the marketplace, cap out-of-pocket prescription costs for people enrolled in Medicare Part D, and close the Medicaid coverage gap in the 12 states that have not expanded eligibility, which would enable more than 2 million people to get preventive care, including cancer screenings, and access to early diagnosis and timely treatment. Together with the president’s executive order, these changes would make a substantial impact on improving the health of cancer patients and their families nationwide.
“On behalf of the more than 1.9 million Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer this year, we welcome this rule change and urge Congress to take swift action to pass these other critical health coverage provisions into law.”
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Alissa Crispino
Vice President, Advocacy Communications & Policy
Washington, D.C.