Health Care Archives - Page 46 of 47 - Congresswoman Cheri Bustos

Making Health Care More Accessible and Affordable

Health care is a deeply personal issue to me.

My sister-in-law, Barb, died several years ago without health insurance. Barb and her husband both worked full-time, but they couldn’t afford health insurance and when she got sick, she couldn’t afford the most effective cancer treatment she needed to survive.

Even those who can afford insurance are not immune to the extremely high costs of operations and prescription medications. A few months after my sister-in-law passed away, my brother Danny died, leaving behind a wife and two daughters. His insurance would not cover his cancer treatment because an experimental drug was required. No family should have to go through the suffering my family did. That’s why I’ve consistently supported legislation to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable and strengthen protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

Another major issue across our nation are societal factors that lead to negative health outcomes, like access to care and racial disparities. We’ve seen this borne out in the 17th Congressional District, where many residents in Peoria lack access to healthy food following the closure of grocery stores. Many in the District also include lack of access to care caused by physician shortages and long drives to the doctor in rural areas.

That’s why I have introduced the Social Determinants Accelerator Act, which would provide funding to communities to combat these issues and help drive positive health outcomes. As a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, I am committed to pushing for Health and Human Services funding that will improve access and quality of care in our communities.

More on Health Care

News

March 31, 2014

Moline Dispatch/Argus: Bustos wants marketing rules for e-cigarettes

MOLINE — A move to legislatively curb the marketing of e-cigarettes to minors was among the topics Monday at U. S. Rep. Cheri Bustos' roundtable discussion of issues related to the rapid growth of the tobacco alternative. A bill sponsored by Rep. Bustos in the House, a counterpart to a bill introduced in the Senate […]

Press Release

March 27, 2014

Bustos Helps Lead New Effort To Protect Children From Dangerous & Addictive E-Cigarettes

New Bill Would Ban Marketing Of E-Cigarettes To Children & Teens WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL) joined with Representatives Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), and Tim Bishop (D-NY) to introduce the Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act to prohibit the advertising of dangerous and […]

Press Release

December 13, 2013

Bustos Leads Common Sense Effort To Ensure All Illinoisans Have Access To Health Care Come January 1st

Bustos Fix Would Protect Those Who Were Unable To Sign Up For Health Insurance Due To Exchange Glitches WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) partnered with Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1) to introduce the Coverage Protection Act. This common sense bill ensures people who put in a good-faith effort, but were unable to […]

News

December 13, 2013

Quad-City Times: Bustos pitches bill to provide retroactive coverage

Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., has introduced a bill to give people who tried to sign up for health insurance coverage but failed retroactive coverage if they meet certain conditions. The proposal is similar to the Obama administration request Thursday to health insurers that they cover people even if they have not been able to sign […]