Access to Health Care

Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care. From cancer screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies to the latest breakthroughs in treatment, everyone should have access to the care that could prevent cancer and save their life. In addition, ensuring that low-income working families have access to affordable health insurance is proven to reduce overall health care costs.

We are working in every state and in Congress to expand health care options and protect existing laws that help patients get true access to the care they need.

People without health insurance are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a late stage, when the disease is harder to treat, more costly and more difficult to survive.

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Photo of female Cancer patient with a pink scarf

National

Tell Congress: Affordable Cancer Care Is Past Due

Ask Congress to help people access affordable health care by closing the Medicaid coverage gap and extending the expansion of Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace subsidies.

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Latest Updates

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The American Cancer Society Highlights Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson ruling on Cancer Patients and their Families

June 24, 2022

National

As a nonprofit entity whose mission is improving the lives of people with cancer and their families, the American Cancer Society isn’t taking sides on the decision. However, the decision will impact cancer patients and their families and is likely to disproportionately effect communities of color.

Nation’s Top Patient, Health Care Provider, and Insurer Groups Push to Extend ACA Premium Tax Credit

June 23, 2022

National

The nation’s leading organizations from across the health care spectrum are calling on Congress to extend the expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care premium tax credits.

TV Spots Paid for by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to Be Paused

June 22, 2022

North Carolina

RALEIGH, NC – June 22, 2022 – A new series of advertisements paid for by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) that launched last week will be paused following recent progress in the House to expand Medicaid. The below is a statement on behalf of ACS

Access Denied: The Injustice of the Medicaid Coverage Gap

June 17, 2022

The facts are clear: expanding access to Medicaid saves lives from cancer. Yet lawmakers in 12 states refuse to expand access to Medicaid for more than 2 million people who desperately need it. In fact, a new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society shows the survival rate for people newly diagnosed with cancer is higher in states that have expanded Medicaid than in states that have not.