First Lady Stresses Importance Of Health Reform To Women At White House Breast Cancer Event

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 28 Oct 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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First lady Michelle Obama framed health care reform as a women's issue at a breast cancer event on Friday, "marking the third time in recent weeks she has weighed in on the health debate so directly," Politico reports. Obama was joined by several House members, breast cancer survivors and advocates at the White House event. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Biden and founder of the Biden Breast Health Initiative, also spoke. The event coincided with the White House's release of a new video featuring the first lady discussing women and health care reform (Henderson, Politico, 10/26).

"We have a health care system in this country that simply is not working for too many people with breast cancer and too many people who are surviving with breast cancer," Obama said at the event. She added, "It's a system that only adds to the fear and stress that already comes with the disease." She said that health care reform legislation supported by the president would benefit women by requiring insurers to cover preventive screenings, such as mammograms, and prohibiting insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. The legislation also would limit out-of-pocket charges and prevent insurers from capping coverage, Obama said, adding, "Because in this country, getting sick shouldn't mean going bankrupt" (Swarns, "The Caucus," New York Times, 10/23).

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