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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Experts to Join ACS CAN Forum on Access to Cancer Clinical Trials in Kansas, Missouri

August 19, 2019

Kansas, Missouri

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network will host We CAN Make an Impact on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The community forum will feature leaders in business, research and patient advocacy discussing the unique challenges of accessing cancer clinical trials in Kansas and Missouri.

N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper Urged to Veto Measure that Would Reduce Access to Lifesaving Cancer Treatment and Drugs

August 19, 2019

North Carolina

Christine Weason, North Carolina government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, strongly urges Gov. Ray Cooper’s veto of SB 86 because expanding access to association health plans will leave hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians with inadequate health care plans.

New Report Highlights Big Tobacco’s Dangerous Attempts to Co-opt Promising Public Health Policies to Serve Their Own Agenda

August 1, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) annual state-by-state report released today finds a majority of bills introduced in 2019 to combat youth tobacco use by raising the age of sale for tobacco to 21 were co-opted by the tobacco industry. ACS CAN’s 17 th

Idaho Falling Short in Enacting Cancer-Fighting Legislation

August 1, 2019

Idaho

Idaho is falling short when it comes to implementing policies and passing legislation to prevent and reduce suffering and death from cancer. According to the latest edition of How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality, Idaho measured up to