Mo. should expand Medicaid

As a cancer survivor and advocate for patients and families dealing with cancer, I urge the Missouri Legislature to accept the millions of dollars of federal funding being offered to Missouri to increase access to health coverage through Medicaid.

Hardworking, low-income families managing a chronic disease like cancer need the security of knowing they have quality health coverage so they can see a doctor regularly and get lifesaving care when they need it, without facing huge medical bills.

The Missouri Legislature will be able to leverage the federal funding to extend lifesaving health coverage to more than 300,000 low-income individuals and families in Missouri.

In 2013, an estimated 33,950 Missourians will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 12,730 will die from this disease. Improving access to Medicaid coverage will increase the probability that diseases like cancer are found early, resulting in lower medical costs and an increased likelihood of survival.

I strongly encourage our state lawmakers to accept the federal money to cover more people and save taxpayer dollars.

PRISCILLA H. MABUCE, volunteer, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Cape Girardeau