October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives. To honor breast cancer survivors and raise awareness First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to an audience on Friday that included survivors, physicians, and lawmakers. Wearing a pink ribbon she stressed the need health care reform.
“… And we know we’re not finished, especially not when we have a health care system in this country that simply is not working for too many people with breast cancer and too many people who are surviving with breast cancer. It’s a system that only adds to the fear and stress that already comes with the disease.
And I’m not just talking about women without insurance, who face the terrifying prospect, as you’ve heard, of having to pay the full cost of their treatment on their own.
I am talking about people in this country who have insurance who have breast cancer — folks who all too often find themselves also paying outrageous out-of-pocket costs.
According to a new report released by the Department of Health and Human Services today, breast cancer patients with employer-sponsored insurance paid an average of more than $6,200 in out-of-pocket costs over the course of a year. And some wound up paying as much as $10,000 or $20,000, and 5 percent with private insurance paid more than $30,000 a year for their treatment.
This is with insurance. These are people who are blessed.”
To read the Firs Lady’s remarks in their entirety click here.
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