• Facebook
  • Rss
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Store
  • Donate
  • 0Shopping Cart
NCCS - National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership
      • Policy Advisors
    • Employment
    • Partnerships
    • Financial Information
  • Policy
    • Quality Cancer Care
    • Access to Care
    • Health Equity
    • Redefining Functional Status (RFS)
    • 2020 State of Cancer Survivorship Survey
    • Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act (CCPCA)
  • Get Involved
    • What is Advocacy?
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT)
    • Elevating Survivorship
    • Survivor Stories
    • Cancerversary
    • State Based Cancer Advocacy
  • Resources
    • Survivorship Checklist
    • Cancer Survival Toolbox
    • Telehealth
    • Publications
      • Talking With Your Doctor
      • Self Advocacy
      • Employment Rights
      • Remaining Hopeful
    • Taking Charge of Your Care
    • Care Planning for Cancer Survivors
    • Tools For Care Providers
    • COVID-19 Resources for Cancer Survivors
    • Order Our Resources
  • News
    • Cancer Convos Podcast
  • Events
    • Ellen L. Stovall Award
      • 2020 Stovall Awards
      • Honorees
      • Sponsors
      • Committees
      • Reception
      • Nominations
    • Cancer Policy Roundtable
      • Fall 2020 Cancer Policy Roundtable
      • Spring 2020 Cancer Policy Roundtable
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) Symposium 2020
    • Webinars
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Year-End MATCH (DEADLINE Dec 31): Donate & Make a Difference | Donate

Rob survivor stories 1200px

Open Letter to Congress: I Am Alive Because of the ACA (Guest Post)

July 11, 2017/in Cancer Policy Blog Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Financial Toxicity, Health Equity, Pre-Existing Conditions NCCS News /by actualize

By Rob DeLorenzo, Cancer Survivor

An Open Letter to Congress

I am alive because of The Affordable Care Act (ACA). Having affordable and decent medical insurance allowed me to receive treatment for cancer which saved my life.

But now you, our elected representatives in Congress, are voting to repeal the ACA and allow insurers to reinstate the pre-existing conditions exclusion, essentially voting for me and millions of others to lose their coverage and then to die. For those of us with a pre-existing condition, insurers will be basically allowed to deny us adequate policies by pricing them beyond what I and millions of other fellow citizens will be able to afford.

Has America become so callous and cruel that we no longer care about each other’s personal welfare?

Have we sunk to the point where the only thing that matters is the bottom line?

Are the people that will lose their insurance coverage just going to be thrown away like garbage?

It’s incomprehensible to me that you would consider voting to sentence millions of people to disease, illness, and death when we have a solution in place that works well for those that need it.

I appreciate you taking the time to consider this. I realize that I am but one lone voice typing into the ether for help.
Please consider that we are not just numbers on a spreadsheet that cost too much to keep alive. We are people with families, friends, jobs, and communities that often need help.

I urge you to not vote to repeal The Affordable Care Act. I like being alive. I like being an American. I would like to believe that my government cares about me and my welfare, but this cruel and callous action contradicts everything that America is supposed to represent. This is not what we are as a nation. We are better than this. This cannot be how we treat our own citizens!

Thank you for your time and I appreciate your consideration of one man’s story.

# # #

Note: The views & opinions expressed in any guest post featured on our site are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions & views of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.



Read more of our ACA repeal coverage, including tips for advocacy »


Related Posts

https://canceradvocacy.org/blog/aca-update-july-7-2017/
https://canceradvocacy.org/blog/takeaway-hill-visits-empathy-short-supply/

Tags: affordable care act, financial issues, Guest Post, pre-existing conditions, repeal and replace
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Rob-survivor-stories-1200px.jpg 600 1200 actualize https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png actualize2017-07-11 16:48:502017-07-11 16:48:50Open Letter to Congress: I Am Alive Because of the ACA (Guest Post)
You might also like
ProtectOurCare 1024px ACA Update March 9, 2018 | HHS Says ‘Not Quite’ to Idaho’s Illegal Health Plans, Supports Expansion of Skinny Short-Term Coverage
FacebookProfile3 States Need “Navigators” for Insurance Exchanges — Difficult Task Ahead
NCCS Starburst Thumbnail WCOE: Online Health Search Privacy, King v. Burwell Updates, Pain Post-Surgery, and Susan Gubar’s Latest on Living with Cancer
NCCS Starburst 250px What Caught Our Eye: ACA Replacement Bill Analysis; Cancer Care Reality in an “Ocean of Hype;” a Highly Effective CML Drug
NCCS News Cancer Policy Matters Coalition, Including NCCS, Urges CMS to Withdraw Guidance Threatening Millions of Americans Who Have Pre-Existing Conditions
ProtectOurCare 1024px ACA Update | March 10, 2017: GOP Repeal Plan, the AHCA, Moves Forward in the House
NCCS Starburst 250px WCOE: Graham-Cassidy Repeal Plan Has Deep Cuts; Bipartisan ACA Hearings Set; Sticker Shock Over Leukemia Drug; New Palliative Care Study; & More
FacebookProfile3 The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Applauds Healthcare Reform

Latest News

HHS Humphrey bldg 1200

NCCS, Cancer Groups Urge CMS to Withdraw Most Favored Nation (MFN) Medicare Part B Rule That Will Harm Patients and Reduce Access to Care

December 22, 2020
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) joined other member organizations…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HHS-Humphrey-bldg-1200.jpg 600 1200 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2020-12-22 20:27:262021-01-04 21:38:15NCCS, Cancer Groups Urge CMS to Withdraw Most Favored Nation (MFN) Medicare Part B Rule That Will Harm Patients and Reduce Access to Care
NCCS Letter to HHS

NCCS Letter to HHS: Proposed Regulatory Review Rule Would Create Unnecessary Uncertainty for Patients

December 9, 2020
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) recently submitted comments…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/HHS-Humphrey-bldg-1200-1030x515-1.jpg 515 1030 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2020-12-09 17:30:502020-12-10 08:22:55NCCS Letter to HHS: Proposed Regulatory Review Rule Would Create Unnecessary Uncertainty for Patients
HHS Humphrey bldg 1200

NCCS Opposes Most Favored Nation (MFN) Rule: New Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model Will Harm Patients

December 3, 2020
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) opposes the Most Favored Nation…
Read more
https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/HHS-Humphrey-bldg-1200.jpg 600 1200 NCCS Staff https://canceradvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NCCA-Logo.png NCCS Staff2020-12-03 21:26:462020-12-03 21:28:06NCCS Opposes Most Favored Nation (MFN) Rule: New Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model Will Harm Patients

Take Action

Stovall Award

The Ellen L. Stovall Award for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care is a unique opportunity for patients and survivors to recognize pioneers who are transforming the cancer care system.

Join CPAT

The NCCS Cancer Policy & Advocacy Team (CPAT) is a program for survivors and caregivers to learn about pressing policy issues that affect quality cancer care in order to be engaged as advocates in public policy around the needs of cancer survivors.

Share Your Story

NCCS represents the millions of Americans who share a common experience – the survivorship experience – living with, through and beyond a cancer diagnosis.

STAY CONNECTED

Together we can improve cancer care for survivors! Sign up to be the first to know about cancer policy issues and ways to take action

  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • Our Leadership
      • Policy Advisors
    • Employment
    • Partnerships
    • Financial Information
  • Policy
    • Quality Cancer Care
    • Access to Care
    • Health Equity
    • Redefining Functional Status (RFS)
    • 2020 State of Cancer Survivorship Survey
    • Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act (CCPCA)
  • Get Involved
    • What is Advocacy?
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT)
    • Elevating Survivorship
    • Survivor Stories
    • Cancerversary
    • State Based Cancer Advocacy
  • Resources
    • Survivorship Checklist
    • Cancer Survival Toolbox
    • Telehealth
    • Publications
      • Talking With Your Doctor
      • Self Advocacy
      • Employment Rights
      • Remaining Hopeful
    • Taking Charge of Your Care
    • Care Planning for Cancer Survivors
    • Tools For Care Providers
    • COVID-19 Resources for Cancer Survivors
    • Order Our Resources
  • News
    • Cancer Convos Podcast
  • Events
    • Ellen L. Stovall Award
      • 2020 Stovall Awards
      • Honorees
      • Sponsors
      • Committees
      • Reception
      • Nominations
    • Cancer Policy Roundtable
      • Fall 2020 Cancer Policy Roundtable
      • Spring 2020 Cancer Policy Roundtable
    • Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) Symposium 2020
    • Webinars
  • Contact Us

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
8455 Colesville Road  |  Suite 930  |  Silver Spring, MD 20910
877-NCCS-YES  |  info@canceradvocacy.org
Privacy Policy  |  Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 1995-2021 by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, NCCS, Cancer Survival Toolbox, and related Logos are registered in the United States as trademarks of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

ACA Update | July 7, 2017: Senate GOP Try to Tweak ACA Repeal Bill as Dissent... ProtectOurCare 1024px Fotolia 23428619 S e1461260836640 NCCS Submits Comments to CMS, Stresses Importance of ACA and Outlines Steps...
Scroll to top

Harmar Brereton, MD

Founder
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute

 

“Perhaps one of the most impactful collaborations in Dr. Brereton’s extraordinary career remains his early work and long friendship with Ellen Stovall. Through him, and in turn through the thousands of lives he has touched, Ellen’s work continues, and her mission lives on.”

—Karen M. Saunders
President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute