Letter: Bill supports biomarker testing
This letter originally ran in the Lincoln Journal Star.
News
Health Care Reform Blog Surviving the System Lobby Day T-2 days
May 18, 2009
One of the patients traveling to the "Surviving the System" lobby day is Roseanne Nabhan from Indiana. Doctors diagnosed Roseanne Nabhan with a 10-centimeter sarcoma in June 2007.
Roseanne completed 28 radiation treatments to reduce the size of the sarcoma and later had a lumpectomy. She is now in remission. Roseanne pays more than $100 per month for her individual health insurance, but the plan has a $2,000 maximum for radiology costs and $160 for diagnostic tests. Roseanne accrued approximately $60,000 in medical bills during her cancer treatment, toward which her insurance company contributed $3,000. RoseanneÈs employer offers insurance but the price of the plan would exceed her earnings as a waitress. Meanwhile, it would cost $268 per month to add her to her husband's employer-sponsored insurance, an expense the couple cannot afford. Recently, the hospital were Roseanne received her radiation treatment wrote-off most of her bills, but Roseanne ended up paying $1,200. She still owes $20,000 for hospital services and anesthesiology related to her surgeries. Roseanne is paying more than $450 per month toward her bills.
Roseanne represents the many cancer patients and survivors who struggle with the adequacy of their insurance coverage. She and others will be traveling to DC this week to meet with their elected officials to tell them that the time for health care reform is now.
A special message from Roseanne as she prepares for the Surviving the System lobby day activities in Washington, DC May 19-20, 2009.
My husband & I are REALLY excited about coming to Washington, DC. I'm happy to be a part of positive change for cancer patients. If my story helps others, it gives some meaning to all that I have been through. Positive stories about others certainly helped me through in my time of despair. We are looking forward to meeting with our Representatives and Senators and just seeing Washington D.C., it's our first visit. Everyone at ACS CAN has been so wonderful to us both, we are truly grateful.
Blessings,
Roseanne