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Introduction The American Cancer Society defines the term “cancer survivor” as any person with a history of cancer, from the time of diagnosis through the remainder of their life. This report is intended to focus on the costs of cancer for those who have finished active ... – do not end when active treatment ends. Individuals face ongoing financial impact. A 2022 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) survey found that over half of cancer survivors report carrying medical debt from their cancer-related treatments. The Costs of Cancer ...

... vulnerable to spikes in their health care costs because many expensive diagnostic tests and treatments are scheduled within a short period of time, so cancer patients spend their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum quickly. These costs can be difficult to manage over the course of a year, and most monthly budgets simply can’t afford these large bills.  Over the two years that Carla is in treatment for stage III breast cancer, she experiences a spike in cost of over $8,000 in the first two months of each year. While she may be able to afford to spend this much on her care spread over the whole ...

  The Problem The U.S. spent approximately $183 billion on cancer-related health care in 2015. This represents a signification portion of the total health care spending in the U.S. And it is expected to keep growing. By 2030 cancer-related health care spending is expected to reach ... These high costs are paid by many people – individual cancer patients and their families, employers, insurance companies and taxpayers.  ACS CAN Fights for Solutions ACS CAN wants to ensure that all individuals can afford the right health care services at the right time, no matter where ... policymakers must focus on ensuring affordable access to insurance coverage and health care services, and reducing the overall financial impact of cancer for patients and families. Policymakers can also limit costs of cancer by pursuing policies that promote cancer prevention and early ...

... helped individuals with pre-existing conditions like cancer access comprehensive health insurance and afford their care. But the law is at risk of being dismantled. The risks of losing ACA protections are clear when you look at current plans that do not have to play by ACA rules. Short-term limited duration plans often ... or other unwelcomed surprises like excluding coverage for a cancer diagnosis as a ‘pre-existing condition.’ For patients with cancer, this can lead to astronomical costs and difficulty affording care. Brian has Stage II lymphoma. When he has a plan that does not include ACA ...