World · Latin America · 3 hrs ago
Cancer treatment drives a sharp insurance cost rise for Atlanta restaurant owners
Jen Chan is being treated for aggressive breast cancer in Atlanta, where she and her wife, Emily, own two food businesses.
After scans found cancer cells in Jen’s lymph nodes, doctors said she needed another year of chemotherapy.
Their insurance broker warned that costs would double after Jen’s treatment and surgery for an employee raised the businesses’ insurance costs.
The increase would affect everyone on the plan, not just Jen and the injured employee.
The businesses can cover only full-time employees, leaving out spouses, dependents and the couple’s son.
Only about one-third of US restaurants offer health insurance, and small businesses often struggle to afford it.
Nearly all surveyed small employers with health plans said high costs could make coverage unsustainable within five to 10 years; no next step for the Chans is given.
Cancer treatment for Atlanta restaurant co-owner Jen Chan, along with surgery after an employee’s accident, led to a sharp rise in the businesses’ insurance costs.
The insurance broker told Chan and her wife, Emily, that their costs would double.
The increase affected all employees covered by the businesses’ plan, not only Chan and the injured employee.
The couple co-own JenChan’s restaurant and Mikkelson’s Market in Atlanta.
The case highlights the difficulty small restaurants face in offering affordable health insurance.
- Who
- Jen Chan and Emily, co-owners of two Atlanta businesses, and their employees.
- What
- The businesses’ insurance costs were set to double after Chan’s cancer treatment and an employee’s accident-related surgery.
- When
- Chan was diagnosed last year. The broker warned of the cost increase during one of her chemotherapy sessions.
- Where
- Atlanta, Georgia, including the Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown neighborhoods.
- Why
- The article says Chan’s cancer treatment and surgery after an employee’s accident raised the businesses’ insurance costs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Doctors diagnosed Jen Chan with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Chan danced to the chemotherapy ward bell after what appeared to be the end of her treatment.
Follow-up tests found cancer cells in Chan’s lymph nodes, and doctors said she would need another year of chemotherapy.
Emily Chan received an email from the insurance broker warning that costs were set to double.
- Businesses
- JenChan’s restaurant and Mikkelson’s Market
- Location
- Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown, Atlanta
- Insurance cost change
- Set to double
- Chan’s diagnosis
- Aggressive breast cancer
- Further treatment
- Doctors said Chan needed another year of chemotherapy
What people are saying
It’s absurd. We can’t even include spouses or dependents on the health plan.
Insurance is often an insurmountable obstacle for small businesses like restaurants. Many of our members would like to offer this option, but simply can’t afford the costs.
Sometimes terrible things happen where, unfortunately, prices double, which is awful. But what can we do?
Emily, I don’t know what you’re going to do about this.