Being a cancer survivor myself, I understand firsthand the struggles of undergoing treatment. Unlike any other illness, cancer therapy is not only physically draining but also mentally and emotionally exhausting. One of the challenges many patients face during this difficult time is balancing their work obligations with the critical need to focus on their health recovery. For cancer patients, the added burden of meeting work requirements to qualify for Medicaid is not just an administrative hurdle, but a genuine threat to their well-being, and their survival.

We call upon federal and state policymakers to urgently implement protections for cancer patients under the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). While we recognize the stated goals of efficiency and accountability in Medicaid, these changes—if applied without clear exemptions—will place undue and dangerous burdens on individuals facing cancer diagnoses and treatment.

Why This Matters:

Cancer is not a lifestyle choice. It is a life-threatening medical condition that demands ongoing treatment, rest, financial stability, and continuous access to care. Many cancer patients:

Cannot work the 80 hours/month now required under OBBB Medicaid rules
Struggle with transportation, paperwork, and red tape during chemotherapy or radiation
Cannot afford new Medicaid cost-sharing fees, even for essential services like emergency care and mental health
May be mistakenly dropped from coverage during frequent redeterminations

Without clearly written medical exemptions, the most vulnerable—including children, low-income adults, and disabled individuals battling cancer—will lose lifesaving care.

Chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy often leave patients too weak to maintain employment. However, not all of these individuals meet the Social Security Administration’s strict definition of disability—especially in early or intermediate stages of treatment. As a result, they face a terrible catch-22: they’re too sick to work, but not “disabled enough” to qualify for continued Medicaid coverage without meeting new work requirements.

This is a grave injustice.

We Petition for the Following Protections:

• Automatic and permanent exemption from work requirements for any individual with a cancer diagnosis requiring active treatment and recovery(chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or palliative care).
• Waiver of all cost-sharing fees for cancer patients, regardless of service type, to ensure uninterrupted access to medical and supportive care.
• Exemption from mid-year eligibility redeterminations for cancer patients for at least 12 months following diagnosis, to prevent harmful lapses in care.
• Clear, uniform federal guidelines defining cancer as a medically frail condition that qualifies for all relevant Medicaid exemptions.
  State-level advisory panels that include oncologists, patient advocates, and Medicaid experts to guide implementation and appeals.

State Medicaid agencies and governors, to include broad medical hardship exemptions—especially for those in active cancer treatment and recovery—when implementing new Medicaid work requirements in each state.

We believe that a bill intended to improve the healthcare system should not cause unnecessary harm to people battling life-threatening illnesses. Please sign and share this petition to demand compassion, clarity, and common sense in healthcare policy.

Don't punish cancer patients- protect them.

Let’s stand up for those fighting cancer. Their fight is hard enough without having to fight for coverage too.