Casey O'Neill
Sr. Regional Media Advocacy Manager
Health Care Affordability in Sharp Focus for Advocates & Cancer Survivors in 2026
Rising costs & murky insurance landscape highlight importance of state-level actions to promote Pennsylvanians’ access to quality, affordable care
January 20, 2026
At the start of Pennsylvania’s 2026 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is calling on lawmakers to seize opportunities to ease the burden of cancer. Advocates are urging state leaders to prioritize affordability and ensure that cost is not a barrier to Pennsylvanians’ ability to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer.
The following statement from Donna Greco, government relations director for ACS CAN in Pennsylvania, outlines each of those opportunities in the following statement:
“We’re coming off a turbulent 2025 where health care affordability dominated headlines. While Pennsylvania made progress in expanding access to affordable, critical care—for breast cancer patients, most notably—federal policies will result in the erosion of many patients’ access to care. Deep Medicaid cuts from H.R.1, coupled with uncertainty around enhanced premium tax credits for Marketplace plans, have created a looming health care cliff. We’re no longer looking over the edge. We’re bracing for impact. Which means that now is the time for leaders in Harrisburg to continue to act and protect Pennsylvanians from having to choose between their physical and financial health. More specifically, we ask lawmakers to build upon their work to remove the financial barriers to early detection.
“Two proposals currently before lawmakers would remove cost-sharing for colorectal and prostate cancer screening, respectively. Last year, the Legislature took an important step by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer follow-up screening and diagnostic imaging. It’s time to extend that same protection to those seeking coverage for routine, lifesaving colorectal screening as well as those at higher risk of prostate cancer in need of prostate cancer screening.
“At the same time, as more low-income and under- or uninsured Pennsylvanians lose access to coverage and, with it, routine screenings and turn to the Pennsylvania Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP), the state must ensure the program can meet the growing demand. ACS CAN is urging lawmakers to fund the BCCEDP at $2.563 million. A fully funded program, paired with strong financial protections for screening, will help more Pennsylvanians detect cancer early when it’s most treatable.
“But affordability doesn’t end with a screening or a diagnosis. Even when patients can access care, too many are still unable to complete treatment because of financial strain. That’s why lawmakers must also address broader affordability challenges that shape whether patients can receive the care critical to their survivorship.
“Expanding access to paid family and medical leave would give patients and caregivers the security to attend appointments, undergo treatment and provide care without risking their income or jobs. At the same time, prohibiting harmful copay accumulator adjustment programs would ensure that all prescription drug copay assistance, including support from third parties, counts toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, rather than pushing patients deeper into medical debt. Together, these protections help ensure that affordability barriers don’t reappear just as patients begin treatment.
These priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to the fight against cancer—from prevention and early detection through treatment and survivorship—and they will drive the cancer community’s advocacy throughout 2026. ACS CAN urges state lawmakers to join us in advancing these proposals and working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.”
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage our volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states and our nation’s capital. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.
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