Passage of Revised Exchange Bill Gives New Jersey a Second Chance

Statement from Ethan Hasbrouck, NJ Director of Advocacy, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, regarding passage of revised health insurance exchange bill.

“How many times in life do you get a second chance? That’s just what New Jersey has now that both the Senate and Assembly have passed revised bills to create the state’s health insurance exchange. 

The nearly 10 percent of cancer patients who are uninsured at the time of diagnosis eagerly await the opportunity to purchase health plans through the exchange that are affordable, high quality, easy to understand and simple to navigate. Health coverage is key to preventing and surviving cancer. Uninsured patients are less likely to get recommended cancer screenings and are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at later stages.

The Senate acted, the Assembly acted, now it’s time for the Governor to do what’s right for New Jerseyans.  Federal deadlines for New Jersey to design and operationalize an exchange are looming. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network urges Gov. Christie to sign this bill into law as soon as possible.”

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About the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.