Cancer advocates said expanding Medicaid in South Carolina would provide healthcare to hundreds of thousands of residents.
Melannie Bachman is a local breast cancer survivor and now the author of her new book ‘A Dive Through Cancer.’
“My intention was to connect hearts with other survivors and caregivers and those impacted by cancer,” Bachman said of her book.
She said access to proper healthcare without barriers is necessary for patients like herself, as well as a sense of community.
“As a survivor myself and going through treatments, I felt that it was a very isolating experience, felt a little bit lonely,” Bachman said.
She’s now joining the ACS CAN’s push to expand Medicaid coverage, a program designed to provide healthcare insurance for lower-income people.
“Right now, there are about 350,000 South Carolinians who do not have access to health insurance most often because they simply can’t afford it,” said Beth Johnson, regional government relation director for ACS CAN.
Johnson also estimates that expanding Medicaid would create roughly 30,000 new jobs in South Carolina.
The ACS CAN says ensuring cancer patients have health insurance is critical to getting patients the help they need when they need it most.
“The best way to prevent cancer is early detection. And if folks are not covered with health insurance, they have no way to go to have these preventative screenings,” Johnson explained.
For some patients living in more rural parts of the state, being able to access healthcare near them is a large barrier.
We have many healthcare deserts in our state, Johnson said.
“People are having to drive 30, 40 minutes or longer just to find a provider if they’re able to find someone,” she explained.
At least 40 other states have expanded Medicaid coverage through the Affordable Care Act, increasing eligibility to cover more low-income Americans. Through the expansion, Medicaid is extended to adults under 65 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty line.
It’s a list of states that healthcare advocates hope South Carolina will join in 2025.
