Increasing and Protecting Access to Medicaid

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Research consistently shows people without health insurance are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at later stages, when the disease is harder to treat, more costly and patient outcomes are poorer. Yet Medicaid provides millions of people in America health coverage to get regular check-ups to stay healthy, see a doctor when they are sick, detect diseases like cancer early to give them the best chance of surviving, access medications and treatments they need, and go to the hospital in an emergency. 

We are working to protect and expand access to Medicaid for people impacted by cancer across the country. 

In July of 2025, Congress voted to make the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. As these cuts and related policy changes take effect, we are working at the federal and state levels to elevate the voices of cancer patients and survivors and to protect access to quality, affordable health care.

Additionally, we are working to expand Medicaid in the remaining 10 states that have not increased access to their Medicaid programs. Going to the doctor is much cheaper than going to the emergency room. And, for a family, preventing cancer is much less expensive than treating it. 

We know how to save lives from cancer. Ensuring that low-income working families have access to affordable health insurance – especially during tough times – is an important first step.  

  

Medicaid provides critical, affordable health coverage to millions of children, seniors, people with disabilities, and other low-income individuals and families in America, including countless cancer patients and survivors.

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Latest Updates

July 3, 2025
Pennsylvania

Today the U.S. House passed the budget reconciliation bill H.R. 1, by a vote of 218 to 214 with Pennsylvania Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick, Brendan Boyle, Dwight Evans, Madeleine Dean, Mary Gay Scanlon, Chrissy Houlahan, Summer Lee and Chris Deluzio voting against the bill and the cuts to Medicaid contained within it.

July 3, 2025
National

Following U.S. House passage of the budget bill containing the most devastating cuts to Medicaid in history and changes to the ACA Marketplace that will make it more expensive and difficult to obtain and keep health insurance, ACS CAN expresses deep disappointment and urges Congress to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits.

July 2, 2025
Maine

ACS CAN Thanks Maine Senators for Voting to Protect Medicaid

June 20, 2025
New Jersey

Last night, advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), NJ Citizen Action and the NJ Black Empowerment Coalition convened a roundtable discussion on the impacts of the budget reconciliation bill in front of Congress on Americans’ access to Medicaid and Marketplace coverage.

Increasing and Protecting Access to Medicaid Resources

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. Law No. 119-21) makes sweeping changes to the Medicaid program, the Marketplace plans, and private insurance.

Medicaid provides access to life-saving care for people in America fighting cancer, especially low-income individuals primarily from rural and underserved communities. 

ACS CAN opposes policies that condition Medicaid enrollment on work or reporting of work.