Several years' ago, after my breast cancer was successfully treated, I became active in supporting a group of young breast cancer survivors. As a group, they are amazing - they know that their cancers are usually more aggressive than breast cancers in older women, their treatments are usually harsher, and they don't have many of the resources that older patients do. Many have small children (or they are too young to have had kids yets), and poor health insurance. Even those who have good health care struggle to meet their day-to-day obligations.
As a result, they know a lot about things that young women shouldn't have to know about - Medicaid, emergency room charges, divorce, bankruptcy, the gotchas in health insurance.
And their stories are scary...
Take, for example, a young woman diagnosed at age 27. Moved back home to Maine, to the support of her parents. Now, several years's ago, Maine was a pretty normal New England state, poorer than many, but she got good basic care.
She got a job, and got health insurance.
But her type of cancer requires follow-up and treatment for several years. And Paul LePage became governor. And the hours at her job were cut back, so she no longer has company health insurance.
The funding for breast cancer treatment in Maine dried up. And Medicaid funding is now very limited.
So, when her doctor's office calls, and says that they want her to come in and see the oncologist, she doesn't go, because she cannot run up her bill any more. And when they ask her to get a scan, the hospital asks for $2000 up front, so she doesn't go.
There is a good chance she will die of this disease.
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