Today, the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) kicks off season 8 of the “Hospitals in Focus” podcast with a conversation on the critical importance of the individual marketplace’s enhanced tax credits for cancer patients’ health outcomes.  

FAH President, CEO, and podcast host Chip Kahn was joined by Pam Traxel, Senior Vice President at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, for an in-depth discussion highlighting how cancer patients would be harmed if the enhanced tax credits expire at the end of 2025. Without the tax credits, 20 million Americans will see their health premiums skyrocket, and 5 million Americans could lose coverage completely. A recent American Cancer Society study found that without coverage, cancer patients are likely to be diagnosed a full stage later, which would be detrimental to their treatment plans. 

“The American Cancer Society authored a seminal study that said that if you don’t have health insurance, you’re likely to be diagnosed with your cancer a full stage later. What this means for cancer patients is the difference between life and death,” said Traxel, laying out the importance of health insurance coverage in a cancer patient’s fight. 

Traxel further explained the dire impacts on patients should the enhanced tax credits expire. “These are real estate agents, hairdressers, tax preparers. They also happen to be battling cancer and have worked very hard to afford health insurance and make sure that they have the right kind of plan to see the right kind of doctors to fight their cancer. This is a really challenging time for them to have to go and say potentially that if Congress doesn’t act, that they won’t be able to afford their health insurance.” 

Last year, FAH joined with leaders across the health care and patient advocacy communities to launch Keep Americans Covered, a broad-based nonpartisan coalition to protect patients from premium increases and loss of health coverage that will occur if Congress fails to extend the enhanced premium tax credits. FAH continues advocating to ensure Congress does the right thing, extends the tax credits, and protects patients’ health care.  

“Hospitals In Focus” is a podcast series from the Federation of American Hospitals. This podcast shines a light on all things hospitals, from advancements in patient care to how a hospital benefits its community.   

Listen and subscribe to the “Hospitals in Focus” podcast HERE.  

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