Local Resident Advocates For Cancer Patients

I recently had the honor of representing Ohio as a 30-year cancer survivor and volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in a virtual Cancer Lobby Day. I, along with other Ohio volunteers, met with federal lawmakers from our state to ask that they make cancer a national priority. Additionally, hundreds of other volunteers across the country met with their state’s federal legislators, calling on Congress to support lifesaving policies that help people prevent and better treat cancer.

We asked legislators for their support in ensuring that the expanded Affordable Care Act tax credits scheduled to expire at the end of 2022 are made permanent in the final budget reconciliation package. These tax credits were originally included in the ACA and expanded in 2020 to make health insurance affordable for millions of Americans who suffered job loss during the pandemic. Because these tax credits made the ACA insurance marketplace much more affordable and available, cancer patients have been able to get lifesaving screenings and treatment.

Unfortunately, at the end of 2022, these tax credits are set to expire. Since we don’t know how long this pandemic will last, the expiration of the credits could be devastating to people who are going through cancer treatment and unable to work. If the cost of insurance increases for these patients and they can’t afford those increases, they would have to end lifesaving treatments. In my meetings with Senators Brown and Portman along with Congressional members Kaptur and Ryan, I asked that they help make these credits permanent to protect cancer patients.

I also told them that cancer isn’t partisan—it touches every community. Therefore, Congress should seize the opportunity to pass this critical legislation that can help save lives and end cancer as we know it.

With more than 1,600 people dying from cancer every day, we must take legislative action on these critical issues.

Barbara Diver

Broadview Heights, OH