WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new survey by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) found that 31% of adults have been more than one year behind on cancer screenings. 53% of those respondents cited out-of-pocket costs as a barrier to getting screened, while another 47% shared that getting insurance approvals for covered screenings was of concern.
“Out-of-pocket costs can significantly hinder individuals from accessing essential cancer screening leading to delayed diagnoses and poorer health outcomes,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “To ensure equitable health care, it is crucial for policymakers to increase access to no-cost or low-cost cancer screening programs, through expanded insurance coverage, community outreach, and public health initiatives.”
The data was discussed among policy experts in the field this morning as part of ACS CAN’s National Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. Panelists discussed the importance of identifying payment and cost barriers and eliminating roadblocks to improve patient access and encourage more investment in new screening and early detection modalities and interventions.
“The president’s recent budget proposal eliminates the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control housed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has been instrumental in cancer prevention and detection, providing over 16.3 million screening exams to more than 6.3 million eligible people through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program,” said Lacasse. “That’s why it is critical for Congress to use the power of the purse to safeguard our national investments in prevention and early detection.”
The data was collected online April 25-28, 2025 among 1,000 adults age 45+ nationwide, with demographic and regional distribution proportionate to the population. Differences reported between groups are tested for statistical significance at a 95% confidence interval.
Read the full polling memo here.
