WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) released its first “Eye on Cancer Care” piece, which focuses on the dangers of the availability of “junk plans” that fail to provide the protections and health insurance coverage that cancer patients, survivors and those at risk of the disease need. The release of this paper comes as many individuals and families are shopping for health insurance during open enrollment through their employers and the Marketplaces. For individuals facing skyrocketing health insurance costs for 2026, “junk plans” could seem an appealing and more affordable option. However, if they are diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, "junk plans” likely won’t cover their necessary testing and treatments. In these cases, patients are often left vulnerable to significant out-of-pocket costs when these plans fail to pay for medically necessary services. Cancer patients already struggle with medical debt. According to ACS CAN Survivor Views survey data, nearly half of all respondents had medical debt related to their cancer.
Evidence clearly shows that having comprehensive health insurance leads to better cancer outcomes. Lack of access to care often results in delayed or skipped cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, increasing the risk of late-stage cancer diagnoses that are harder and more costly to treat.
The most common types of “junk plans” include Farm Bureau plans, health care sharing ministries, association health plans and short-term limited-duration health plans. Unfortunately, changes to the regulation of insurance have led to expanded availability of these “junk plans” on the market, which lack crucial Affordable Care Act (ACA) safeguards; therefore, they can deny claims based on medical history and pre-existing conditions, and often fail to cover essential health benefits, such as emergency services and prescription drugs. Additionally, these “junk plans” don’t provide the patient protections of ACA-compliant health insurance, including out-of-pocket maximums, which help safeguard individuals from massive medical bills and ultimately medical debt. Having medical debt, in turn, makes an individual more likely to forego future needed care, such as cancer screenings and additional medical follow-up because of costs.
Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN, released the following statement:
“Research clearly shows that having comprehensive health insurance is one of the most significant factors in surviving a cancer diagnosis. The recent rise in the availability of junk plans is alarming because these plans are not comprehensive, can deny claims for pre-existing conditions, and often do not meet the needs of cancer patients.
“Skyrocketing health insurance costs for 2026 will leave many people without any options for affordable, comprehensive health coverage. This current health care affordability crisis may make junk plans, which can be marketed as less expensive health insurance options, seem like a suitable alternative. These plans are deceptive, dangerous and often give consumers a false sense of security because they often fail to cover basic health services, aren’t required to cover pre-existing conditions and leave patients with significant medical bills after claims are denied. For cancer patients and those who will be diagnosed with cancer in the future, these junk plans can be life-threatening.
“ACS CAN is calling on Congress to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that help make Marketplace coverage more affordable before it’s too late. Every day without action from Congress means more people will be forced to go uninsured due to cost or turn to junk plans that don’t meet their needs. Without access to the care they need to get well and stay well, people will live sicker and die sooner.”
Read ACS CAN’s Eye on Cancer Care paper on the availability of junk plans here.
Eye on Cancer Care is a series of white papers and one-pagers that spotlight key access-to-care issues central to ACS CAN’s vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Access to care for cancer patients is a core priority for ACS CAN. This series provides background on critical policy issues affecting cancer patients, as well as recommendations to help ensure that patients (including those with undiagnosed cancer) and survivors can access the care they need.
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