Congress has the power to move the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act forward, eliminating the cruel and arbitrary waiting periods eligible people with metastatic breast cancer must endure before they can access the disability and health benefits they earned, paid for, and desperately need. That’s why NBCC launched an all-out campaign to make it happen this summer.
What that means: NBCC and NBCC advocates are pushing the House Ways and Means Committee to move the bill to markup, calling members of Congress daily to demand support, planning a targeted lobby day on June 23, and taking our message to the press—and keeping you updated on our progress.
Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread from the breast to the bones, lungs, or other distant parts of the body. There is no cure. The life expectancy of those diagnosed with metastatic disease is, on average, 3 years.
The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act would waive the lengthy and arbitrary waiting periods for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (5 months) and Medicare (24 months) faced by eligible individuals with metastatic breast cancer.
Hear from those who have been affected by these waiting periods and learn how earlier access to benefits could have changed the rest of their lives.
NBCC advocate Catherine Marquardt (right) passed away on December 2, 2020, at age 48, just one day after her two-year waiting period was up and she qualified for Medicare.Getting the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act passed in Congress will require sustained advocacy, grassroots pressure, and direct engagement with lawmakers. Thanks to the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar.
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NBCC President Fran Visco to Representative Jason Smith (R-MO-8), chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, and Representative Richard Neal (D-MA-1), ranking member:
Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, it is well past time to consider the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act. While, unfortunately, it is already too late for too many of our loved ones, I ask you to act urgently to help many others.
