Access to Health Care

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Related Priorities

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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Cancer patient

New Senate coronavirus bill needs critical health provisions

Ask your U.S. Senators to include three critical provisions in the new coronavirus relief bill to support cancer patients and survivors.

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Latest Updates

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American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Applauds NY Senate Passage of Bill to Reduce Barriers for Patients Facing Life-Threatening Illnesses

May 12, 2021
New York

ACS CAN applauds the New York State Senate for passing legislation that will help New Yorkers pay for treatment of life-threatening illnesses. Asks Assembly to also pass measure.

Patient Groups Praise Administration’s Action to Preserve Protections Against Discrimination for LGBTQ Patients

May 10, 2021
National

More than a dozen patient groups representing millions of Americans with serious and chronic health conditions are praising the Biden administration’s action to preserve protections in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) patients receiving health care services.

Volunteers Meet Virtually with Lawmakers to Support Legislation Allowing Pharmacists to Administer All CDC Recommended Vaccines

May 10, 2021
New York

ACS CAN was joined by other health and social justice groups to ask lawmakers to allow pharmacists to administer all vaccines approved by CDC.

Cancer Patients and Survivors Rally Legislators Virtually Due to COVID-19

May 4, 2021
Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The unpredictable and dynamic nature of COVID-19 is no match for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) volunteers’ steadfast commitment. When the elevated risk for those with compromised immune systems became a roadblock for the annual Cancer Action Day, cancer patients, survivors and caregivers

Access to Health Care Resources

Telehealth for People Living with and Beyond Cancer

November 9, 2020

Telehealth visits that enable providers to deliver clinical services from a distance using options like video conferencing and remote monitoring can provide cancer patients and survivors with a convenient means of accessing both cancer care and primary care.

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Patient Assistance Programs & Discount Coupons

May 28, 2020

Many cancer patients have difficulty affording the cost of their prescription drugs, regardless of whether they are insured.  This is especially true for newer drugs that do not have a generic equivalent.  Many programs exist to help patients afford their medication.  This fact sheet focuses on two of these – patient assistance programs and discount coupons.  

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Joint Letter to Congress on Patient Coverage Priorities in COVID Relief Packages

April 15, 2020

ACS CAN joined 50 groups representing, cancer patients, survivors, doctors, nurses, cancer centers, pharmacists and researchers urging Congress to address barriers to patient access to care and coverage.

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