I am a Rare Cancer advocate and I have been one for over 10 years now. This is a volunteer job that has given me the opportunity to talk on the internet to thousands of rare cancer patients. Of course, every one of our stories is sad, but the ones that are most devastating to me are those about lack of health coverage. 

I have helped several young people who opted not to get health insurance, based on their other financial responsibilities.  They assumed that they would never have a catastrophic medical condition at a young age.  Well, I am here to tell you that cancer is non-discriminatory.  I have helped babies as young as one month, young adults, middle aged people, and those who are retired.

So, what happens when someone has no insurance and gets diagnosed with cancer?  Well, first they come to organizations like mine looking for information on any financial assistance.  Often, I have to tell them that for their circumstances, there is none.  Even if they are able to get help and acquire insurance, they are often denied coverage because their condition is ‘pre-existin’. And, that breaks my heart because I know without insurance, at best they will get sub-standard care; and, at worst, they will get no care. Health insurance, in the cancer world, can mean the difference between life and death.

That is why Hillary’s plan for health care for ALL Americans is so important to me.  With this type of coverage, I would not have to tell a person, I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do to help you; and then be left with nothing to do but support them emotionally through their dying process.  I live in the world of the catastrophically ill uninsured.  Not a lot of people do.  So, I can understand it when people say - "We shouldn’t dictate to people".  But, I can tell you, if they were still alive, I would be able to get scores of people onto this website to tell you that they wish someone had dicated to them……..

Take Care, Sharon Lane

Mark It!