Take Action!

Help remove barriers to treatment for cancer patients in Illinois!

Health insurance companies should not be able to limit patient access to life-saving cancer treatments.

We need our state Senators to support a bill before the Illinois Senate – HB 5085 – that would knock down two barriers that affect cancer patients in our state. The bill would help make oral chemotherapy treatments more affordable and ensure access to clinical trials.

Let your Senator know that you support this vital legislation. Send your letter today!

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Health insurance companies should not be able to limit patient access to life-saving cancer treatments.

As your constituent, and as an advocate for cancer patients, I ask that you cosponsor House Bill 5085, which will address the disparity of insurance coverage by ensuring that patients in health care plans have coverage for costs related to potentially lifesaving cancer clinical trials and requiring that important oral chemotherapy drugs be covered at the same rate as traditional intravenous chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, there are many barriers to quality healthcare for cancer patients in Illinois. Oral chemotherapy is becoming an attractive treatment option for many patients - but there is a significant difference in the amount many cancer patients must pay out-of-pocket for an oral drug and how much they pay for an intravenous treatment. Intravenous therapies are typically covered under a medical benefit, under which most patients are only responsible for an office copayment for each visit, whereas oral chemotherapy is often covered under a prescription drug benefit, which tends to have higher copayments.

Another significant barrier in the access to quality care for Illinois patients is the coverage of routine patient care costs for clinical trials. Clinical trials are a vital lifeline, offering access to high quality care and cutting edge treatments for people battling cancer. But sadly, thousands of people are denied access to these trials each year, simply because their insurance doesn't cover routine treatment costs associated with the clinical trial.

I hope you will stand with me in supporting this critical legislation, an important step in making sure there is no distinction between different forms of life-saving treatments in the fight against cancer in Illinois.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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