Healthcare is a Human Right

Most of our community knows that on May 4, 2017, the House of Representatives voted to pass the American Health Care Act, legislation that endangers access to healthcare coverage for millions of Americans, including young women affected by breast cancer. The Senate is now working on their version of the bill.

On May 24, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released their score on the bill, sharing findings that the implementation of the legislation would lead to millions of Americans becoming uninsured. In a decade, 23 million more Americans would lack healthcare coverage, when compared to the current law..

A wide range of organizations have spoken out against the American Health Care Act (AHCA), and YSC is proud to be part of a coalition of 23 cancer advocacy groups calling for Congress to protect people with pre-existing conditions, and for our community to make their voices heard.

I’m writing today to strengthen that call.

As young survivors, when we look at who’s making these decisions, it's easy to feel like we're invisible, and that our struggles and our needs are invisible to people in power.

But it's imperative to remember we are not invisible; there's that pesky, undeniable fact of us: The 250,000 young women affected by breast cancer living in the U.S. today. The 12,000 newly diagnosed women who join us each year.

I've seen first hand what this community is capable of. Our ability to muscle through the nonsense, the heartache, the physical pain, is awe-inspiring.

Many of you know that I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 36. It was an experience that changed me forever. Since my diagnosis, I've heard more stories than I can count of young women who, in the face of incredible adversity, became powerful advocates for themselves and for others.

I know the sheer power of us. We are a community that can stand up, gather our courage and say: we need to do better. I know that we can make a difference, because none of this is a foregone conclusion if we stay strong and stay focused.

So here's what I'm asking. Make the call. Attend the townhall. Visit the office. Hold your elected officials accountable. Share your story with them, and tell them they need to do better for young women affected by breast cancer. And that they can start by protecting people with pre-existing conditions.

Tell YSC about it when you do. Tag us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and we’ll cheer you on. Use the hashtag #IAmAPreexistingCondition to amplify your reach.

And above all: Remember that we are not invisible when we demand to be seen.

Resources:
Search for your representatives by zipcode or state.
Learn how to contact your reps and what to expect when you do in the Call the Halls Guide.
Find a town hall to attend near you.