Comment: “Welcome to Obamacare. Thank you for waiting, the doctor won’t see you now…”
“WASHINGTON (AP) — Some of America’s best cancer hospitals are off-limits to many of the people now signing up for coverage under the nation’s new health care program.”
[...] “An Associated Press survey found examples coast to coast. Seattle Cancer Care Alliance is excluded by five out of eight insurers in Washington’s insurance exchange. MD Anderson Cancer Center says it’s in less than half of the plans in the Houston area. Memorial Sloan-Kettering is included by two of nine insurers in New York City and has out-of-network agreements with two more.”
“In all, only four of 19 nationally recognized comprehensive cancer centers that responded to AP’s survey said patients have access through all the insurance companies in their states’ exchanges.”
[...] “This is a marked deterioration of access to the premier cancer centers for people who are signing up for these plans,” Mendelson said.”
“Those patients may not be able get the most advanced treatment, including clinical trials of new medications.”
Concerns about cancer centers under health law
AP, March 18, 2014, By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR