West Virginians die of cancer at a higher rate than the rest of the United States. (Getty Images)
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month — coinciding with the start of open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace Plans.
You have probably seen West Virginians for Affordable Health Care everywhere the last week or so talking about open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act. This is exactly why we do this.
West Virginia has one of the highest incidence rates of lung cancer in the United States. According to data from the West Virginia Cancer Center, approximately 2,047 people are diagnosed each year with lung cancer, and 1,460 will die from the disease. Half of all people with lung cancer diagnoses have distant metastasis, meaning the cancer has spread.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in West Virginia.
There are geographic differences in lung cancer incidence rates in West Virginia. Rates are much higher in the southwestern region of the state (Lincoln, Boone, Logan, McDowell and Mingo). Lincoln County has the highest rate at 117.41 per 100,000, while Doddridge County has the lowest rate at 29.1 per 100,000.
Cigarette smoking is linked to 80 to 90% of lung cancers, making it the number one risk factor for the disease. Other factors include secondhand smoke, radon, other substances and pollutants — including asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust, and some forms of silica and chromium — personal family history of lung cancer, previous radiation therapy to the chest and possibly diet.
Most lung cancers can be prevented as these are connected to smoking, secondhand smoke, or exposure to radon or other environmental factors. Lung cancer screening using LDCT can help find lung cancer at an earlier stage when it is most treatable, thus improving quality of life and increasing life span for lung cancer survivors.
Statistics from the West Virginia Cancer Registry show:
- Only 20% of West Virginia lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage (local) when chances of survival are greatest
- Approximately 72% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at a later stage (regional/distant)
- In 8% of lung cancer cases the stage is unknown at the time of diagnosis
These grim statistics reveal why maintaining access to affordable health insurance is so crucial. We can never go back to the day when cancer patients couldn’t get health insurance coverage because they exceeded a lifetime limit or were denied coverage because they survived cancer, and now have a pre-existing condition. We must ensure they don’t experience any gap in their health insurance coverage and that their policies are truly affordable.
Don’t take a gamble and face a cancer diagnosis alone. Enrollment in ACA Marketplace Plans for 2025 is underway and runs through January 15. If you don’t have health insurance through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or another source that provides qualifying health coverage, you can find coverage through the Marketplace.
One bit of good news regarding cost is the Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC), enacted in the American Rescue Plan and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act, have helped millions of people afford health coverage in the ACA.
Here at home, over 21,000 West Virginians benefit from those tax credits — saving the average enrollee an estimated $2,400 annually. These tax credits are a lifeline for West Virginians who would otherwise not be able to afford their health coverage or access health care.
However, the enhanced premium tax credits are set to expire after 2025. If Congress does not extend the tax credits, this assistance will be cut and tens of thousands of West Virginians will face losing their health insurance, delaying or skipping needed health care or taking on medical debt they cannot afford.
A study conducted by the American Cancer Society showed that people who are uninsured or underinsured are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at its more advanced stages when treatment is more expensive and patients are more likely to die from the disease.
Enrollment in coverage supports the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Studies confirm that coverage improves access to care, supports positive health outcomes (including an individual’s sense of their own health and well-being), incentivizes appropriate use of health care resources and reduces financial strain on individuals, families, and communities.
All Marketplace plans cover:
- 10 essential health benefits, including prescription drugs, emergency services, hospitalization, laboratory services and mental health and substance use disorder services
- Free preventive health services at no cost to you when delivered by a doctor or provider in your plan’s network
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions
There are several ways to apply for and enroll in Marketplace health coverage:
- Call WV Navigator — A free non-profit program available to all in-state residents that provides free enrollment assistance — at 1-844-WV-CARES or 681-265-9008. You can also visit www.acanavigator.com/wv.
- Use HealthCare.gov to apply online.
As Congress considers changes to the Affordable Care Act, it is critically important that lawmakers maintain the patient protections that are so important to cancer patients and survivors, and ensure insurance coverage is truly affordable.
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