Access to Health Care

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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.

Latest Updates

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Advocates to Lawmakers: Improve Access to Cancer Care

January 27, 2026
Ohio

As lawmakers dive into the 2026 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to prioritize passing legislation to ease the burden of cancer on Buckeyes.

Courage in Action: Cancer Survivors Unite at Statehouse to Advocate for Change

January 21, 2026
Indiana

Cancer Advocates Gathered at the Statehouse Today to Say Indiana Can and Must Do Better to Reduce the Burden of Cancer

Arizona Cancer Survivors, Patients Call on State Lawmakers to Prioritize Access to Care, Early Detection, and Tobacco Control this Session

January 21, 2026
Arizona

PHOENIX, ARIZ. - With the 2026 legislative session now underway, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is leading efforts this session to protect and expand access to quality health care, sustain lifesaving cancer prevention measures, and reestablish Arizona as the country’s leader in tobacco control. ACS CAN

Health Care Affordability in Sharp Focus for Advocates & Cancer Survivors in 2026

January 20, 2026
Pennsylvania

At the start of Pennsylvania’s 2026 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is calling on lawmakers to seize opportunities to ease the burden of cancer. Advocates are urging state leaders to prioritize affordability and ensure that cost is not a barrier to Pennsylvanians’ ability to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer.

Access to Health Care Resources

Increasing Access to Cancer Screenings for Individuals with Disabilities

September 30, 2025

For the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer – no matter how much money someone makes, the color of their skin, sexual orientat

ACS CAN Comments to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

September 19, 2025

ACS CAN supports fact-based vaccine policies that fight cancer through increased access and uptake of vaccines that prevent viruses that lead to cancer, treat cancer by boosting the immune system, and protect cancer patients and their families by maximizing community immunity.

The Critical Role of Preventive Services without Cost Sharing for Cancer Prevention and Survivorship

August 20, 2025

Access to preventive services saves lives. Over the past four decades, cancer prevention and screening services alone have averted approximately 4.75 million deaths from breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers.