Navigating Financial Uncertainty: Proactive Tips for Blood Cancer Patients and Their Families

It's no secret that the last two months have been very tumultuous. Layoffs in very important parts of government, as well as potential cuts in very useful and popular programs, are causing havoc in our stock market and living rooms across the country and, in fact, the world. In this article, we'll explore how these changes might affect your healthcare and what steps you can take to protect yourself.

I have decided to review how some of these issues can affect you, how you can be aware of changes that might affect you, and what you can possibly do to mitigate negative impacts on your healthcare. Additionally, I will provide you with sources where you can find timely and relevant information that can help you navigate the best you can.

Understanding Medicare and Medicaid Changes

The Current Situation

Some of the issues we have seen before, others we haven't, so it is yet to be seen how the latter will shake out. The House passes a budget resolution instructing the House Energy and Commerce Committee to reduce the federal deficit by at least $800 billion over the next 10 years. In the resolution, Medicaid is not mentioned directly; however, because Medicaid is E&C's jurisdiction, the cuts are expected to come from Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office early confirms this.

What These Cuts Mean

Major cuts to Medicaid are the only way to meet the House's budget resolution requirements. There are many ways to cut Medicaid. And as states administer Medicaid, they would be left raising revenue or cutting spending. Cutting Medicaid would mean dropping coverage for some people, eliminating coverage of high-cost optional benefits such as prescription drugs, or cutting payment rates to health plans and providers.

State-by-State Impact

Different policies would have different implications for states, with policies such as a per capita cap having widespread effects across all states and policies such as cuts to the federal share of funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion. As subsidies are automatically set to expire at the end of 2026, some changes may not be implemented before then.

Additional Policy Changes

The cost-cutting will disproportionately affect red and blue states that have expanded Medicaid. Additional Medicaid policies that may be implemented include: limiting supplemental payments to hospitals, which accounted for one-fifth of all spending on hospital care in 2023. These cuts could disproportionately affect the healthcare industry, with the consequences being larger in states with greater reliance on such payments. Again, those with expanded Medicaid, additional proposed changes to Medicaid include work requirements. Some states have already started trying to implement this. Some of the concerns patients may have are making too much money to qualify for Medicaid and too much for the Affordable Care Act.

Impact on Social Security and Healthcare Access

Social Security Processing Delays

Social Security is also in the crosshairs, though the President has said he won't touch it. There is precedent to say he might. However, reductions in the workforce at the Social Security Administration will put an additional strain on application processing. In December, the average wait time for a Social Security disability application processing was 255 days, with a 1.2 million application backlog. With a reduction in the workforce, that processing timeline is sure to be extended.

Assisting people with enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B, along with Part D prescription benefits, Social Security Disability Income, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Retirement income will also be impacted.

Tips for Disability Applications

If you are going to apply for Social Security Disability Benefits, consider working with an attorney. This will help to make sure your paperwork is in good order when you first apply, and reduce errors and wait times. Make sure you start as early as possible to reduce a lapse in income and coverage.

Rural Healthcare Concerns

For those who live in rural areas, the closing of many medical facilities has created difficulty in accessing care. The cost of travel to get medical treatment may become more expensive. Telehealth has been a saving grace for many people. Unfortunately, the extension of telehealth faces uncertainty in Congress.

Treatment Access and Clinical Trial Updates

Supply Chain Concerns

The cost of prescription drugs can increase with a supply shortage, particularly for medicines coming from China, India, the EU, Canada, and Mexico. In fact, the majority of active pharmaceutical ingredients come from other countries, 70% from China and India. If there are shortages, it could exacerbate the already existing shortage. Go to the FDA database to see which therapies are in short supply.

Impact on Clinical Trials

Medicine shortages can affect clinical trials by causing them to pause or shut down because they may not have enough of the treatment needed for the study. If you are in a clinical trial, the care team will update you about any shortages or delays.

Research and Trial Availability

The National Institutes of Health has recently lost researchers and funding. These can reduce the number of clinical trials that are started and completed. If you are concerned about your clinical trial, contact the study team or the trial sponsor for updates.

Taking Action

A lot is going on right now, and we may be processing this for quite a while. This is definitely not a time to ignore what is going on, as one or more of these issues may affect you directly. 

What can you do? Be aware of what's happening. Start budgeting for additional costs if you can. Advocate! Send letters to your state representatives. Call them! They want to hear from their constituents; after all, they want to stay in office. And if they aren't serving those who elected them, staying in office becomes a major challenge.

Stay Connected and Informed

Join me for regular updates and guidance through our Financial Connect channel, our bi-monthly Q&As, and webinars. Together, we can navigate these challenges and ensure you have the support you need.

Join the Financial Support Group

Sources:

• HealthTree Webinar: Navigating Financial Uncertainty: Proactive Tips for Blood Cancer Patients and Families. March 4, 2025
• American Hospital Association. Feb 2025 Fact Sheet: Telehealth Waivers and ACA
• KFF: The Math is Conclusive: Major Medicaid Cuts are the Only Way to Meet House Budget Resolution Requirements. Alice Burns, March 7, 2025
• KFF: Workforce Reduction at Social Security Could Affect Medicare and Medicaid Coverage. Juliette Cubanski, March 3, 2025