Christine Yoder, a breast cancer survivor and State Lead Ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, spoke at the Indiana Statehouse to urge lawmakers to support Senate Bill 85. Her testimony shared the harsh realities of medical debt experienced by her own family, highlighting how illness and expensive treatment can deeply affect lives. Yoder described two personal stories. Her grandson Ollie, diagnosed with a brain tumor at age eight, received specialized treatment in Chicago. The family was faced with a $30,000 ambulance bill for what was considered non-emergency transport, despite medical necessity. Efforts to convince the insurance company failed, and the bill went into collections, leaving the family struggling to manage the debt.
Yoder also spoke about her late brother Mark, a truck driver who lost his health insurance after losing his job. As his health worsened and medical bills stacked up, Mark delayed vital treatments. Yoder believes medical debt ultimately led to his passing, impacting not only his health but the family’s stability as well. The stories were shared to show lawmakers the urgent need for change.
Senate Bill 85, which Yoder and a coalition of nearly 25 organizations are backing, aims to protect families from losing their homes to hospital liens and limits wage garnishment for low-income residents. Statistics from the Urban Institute reveal that about 20% of Indiana residents have medical debt in collections, totaling $2.2 billion across the state. Advocates say that families are often forced to choose between their health and their financial well-being, a situation that needs urgent attention.
Yoder presented a petition with hundreds of signatures to lawmakers, encouraging them to “choose people over paperwork” and act against medical debt. She emphasized that medical debt grows quickly, arrives quietly, and has long-lasting effects on families. Dave Almeida of Blood Cancer United echoed these concerns, saying that medical costs are driving treatment decisions more than health needs.
Senate Bill 85 has already passed the Indiana Senate with strong bipartisan support and is now being considered by the House Committee on Public Health. Advocates hope it will soon move to a full vote and then to Governor Braun’s desk. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network continues to push for policies that make cancer care more affordable and accessible for all, believing everyone deserves a fair chance to survive and thrive despite a diagnosis.
