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

Ask Congress to find a bipartisan solution to improving healthcare

Join us in pressing Congress to continue working toward a bipartisan solution that reduces healthcare costs for patients and survivors while providing true access to the cancer care they need.

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ACS CAN volunteer coming to Capitol Hill to speak out against proposed changes to Medicare Part D plans

March 25, 2019

National

Gail Orcutt, a retired teacher and ACS CAN volunteer from Iowa, had a nagging cough that wouldn’t go away when she went to see her doctor in 2010. Her doctor ordered an x-ray and, a day before her 57 th birthday, Gail was diagnosed with lung cancer caused by her

ACS CAN Reacts to Governor’s Budget

March 15, 2019

Ohio

Columbus, OH. – March 15, 2019 – Today Gov. Mike DeWine released his proposed FY 2020-2021 budget for Ohio. Jeff Stephens, director of government relations in Ohio for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), made the following statement in reaction. “As an organization dedicated to saving lives,

ACS CAN Cautions Florida House Subcommittee on Medicaid Work Requirements

March 13, 2019

Florida

ACS CAN opposes tying access to affordable health coverage for low-income persons to work requirements because cancer patients, survivors and those who will be diagnosed with the disease could be physically unable to comply. Cancer treatment often causes several side effects, some of which can be serious and debilitating. Treating physicians may advise cancer patients against work during treatment to avoid risk of infection, to have time to heal and recover, and for other health reasons.

Administration Budget Risks Reversing Progress Against Cancer

March 11, 2019

National

The administration released its FY20 budget today including a $4.7 billion cut for medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) including a nearly $900 million cut for the National Cancer Institute (NCI).