* Cancer patients and survivors are often unable to find adequate and affordable coverage in the individual market. Cancer survivors who have been in remission for years and have a good long-term prognosis may still have trouble finding coverage or pay higher premiums in the individual market. For instance, 10 years after Thomas Olszewski of Graham, Texas was treated for early prostate cancer, he still is unable to find affordable health coverage and pays one-fourth of his family's income in premiums for a high-deductible plan.

* High-risk insurance pools are not available to all cancer patients, and some find the premiums difficult to afford. High-risk pools, which are designed to help cancer patients and others who are uninsurable, are not available in all states, and when they are available, they are often much more expensive than most other plans in the individual market. For example, high costs have prevented breast cancer survivor Mardel Budreau of West Lafayette, Ind. from enrolling in a high-risk pool after learning her individual insurance policy only paid $250 toward her radiation treatment.


* Waiting periods, strict restrictions on eligibility, or delayed application for public programs can leave people who are too ill to work without an affordable insurance option. Cancer patients too sick to work may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance income and, after two years of receiving this income, may qualify for Medicare coverage. During the waiting period, patients typically have reduced incomes and may not be able to afford private insurance coverage. This happened to David Young, a truck driver from Godwin, N.C., who has not worked since being diagnosed with late-stage kidney cancer. Young became eligible for Social Security disability benefits in October 2007 but does not yet qualify for Medicare benefits.

The report, Spending to Survive: Cancer Patients Confront Holes in the Health Insurance System, was jointly authored by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the American Cancer Society. The Kaiser Family Foundation also released a separate video documentary profiling three of patients featured in the report.

The report and video are available online at www.kff.org and www.cancer.org.

The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, dedicated to producing and communicating the best possible information, research and analysis on health issues.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across America. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

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