Access to Health Care

Share

Photo of a Doctor visiting their patient in the hospital

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.

Latest Updates

See More Updates

State Legislature Continues Assault on Idahoans’ Health Care  

March 23, 2026
Idaho

BOISE, Idaho –– Taking health care coverage from Idahoans continues to be a top priority for the Idaho Legislature as it works towards closing the 2026 session. House Bill 913 is yet another destructive bill that would strip insurance from our hard-working friends and neighbors and implement onerous government paperwork

Cancer Advocates Celebrate as Governor Signs “Jill’s Law” for Biomarker Testing Coverage

March 17, 2026
Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. – Cancer advocates are celebrating after Gov. Tate Reeves signed “Jill’s Law” House Bill 565 Monday night, paving the way for increased access to biomarker testing for Mississippians with state-regulated health insurance plans. Biomarker testing is a key tool used by physicians to identify the

ACS CAN: New Proposed Rule for Many Private Health Insurance Plans Would Have Life-Threatening Consequences for Cancer Patients and Survivors

March 13, 2026
National

This week, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network submitted comments in a letter opposing several policies in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters proposed rule for plan year 2027.

Annual “Suits and Sneakers” Cancer Action Day Comes to Columbia

March 3, 2026
South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Around 50 cancer survivors, patients and advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will come from around the state for “Suits and Sneakers” Cancer Action Day at the State House on Wednesday, March 4. The event is an annual highlight as lawmakers

Access to Health Care Resources

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.

ACS CAN Comments re: Removing Medical Debt from Credit Reports

August 9, 2024

ACS CAN submitted comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau strongly supporting the proposal to prohibit medical debt from appearing on credit reports.