Cancer advocates call for better insurance

WASHINGTON, June 5 (UPI) -- The American Cancer Society Tuesday released guidelines for quality health insurance coverage.

"Merely having insurance may not be enough during a health crisis; you may be insured, but you may not be covered," said Daniel Smith, president of the society's advocacy branch. "Everyone should be guaranteed coverage for the screenings and treatments they need to prevent and fight cancer and other life-threatening diseases."

A recent Harvard University study found 30 percent of families faced with cancer have problems paying their medical bills, and 25 percent have spent most or all of their savings on treatment costs.

Those patients will have difficulty getting the care they need, the society said. If coverage is skimpy, care may be too difficult, expensive or complicated to access.

Quality health insurance covers the full range of evidence-based healthcare services, holds down out-of-pocket costs and makes it easy to file claims, according to the group.