“My name is Angie Jannuzzi, and I am the face of an uninsured woman whose life has been forever changed for the better by the Commonwealth of PA's Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Program (BCCPT). 

My family and I moved to PA in 2006.  My husband got a full time job, one that advertised family benefits and healthcare.  After the 90 day waiting period, he was told that it would cost 700 per month for basic family coverage.  Needless to say, we were unable to afford the insurance.  On January 29^th, 2009, I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer, which is a relatively rare and aggressive type.  The office staff at my doctor’s office urged me to call Adagio Health in Pittsburgh.  A wonderful woman there directed me to the PA Department of Health’s HealthyWoman website, told me the exact form to download and how to apply to the BCCPT. 

As I went in for my first chemo treatment we still did not know if I had coverage or not.  I received notification on March 3^rd that I was approved for coverage under the program, retroactive to my biopsy date.  I cried with relief.  We wouldn’t have to sell our cars, our house, or bankrupt ourselves in order for me to get well.  I could concentrate on fighting cancer instead of fighting a bill collector.”