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.

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National

Sign the petition to help protect affordable health care

Countless cancer patients and survivors have benefits from patient protections in the health care law. Sign now to urge Congress to keep and strengthen comprehensive, affordable health coverage

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Latest Updates

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Testimony Sent a Clear Message: It’s Time to Remove the Sunset from Montana Medicaid Expansion

January 24, 2025
Montana

HELENA, Mont. – Wednesday’s hearings on Montana Medicaid and expansion illustrated well the success of the program and the clear need for legislators to ensure that state residents have continuing access to crucial, life-saving health care. Hours of powerful testimony from countless Montanans made it clear that Medicaid is working

Patient Groups Urge Court of Appeals to Allow Critical Access to Affordable Health Insurance for DACA Recipients in 19 States

January 24, 2025
National

Washington, D.C. – Today, patient groups representing millions of individuals with serious diseases and health conditions submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to uphold insurance coverage eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, as permitted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Final Rule issued in May 2024.

Cancer Patients, Survivors Travel to Pierre to Urge Legislators to Leave Medicaid Expansion, Tobacco Fund in Place

January 22, 2025
South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. –– American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates will arrive at the Statehouse Wednesday for their annual Day at the Capitol. Cancer patients, survivors, their families and caregivers will ask lawmakers to make cancer a policy priority by leaving Medicaid expansion in place as voters intended

New List of Drugs for Medicare Price Negotiation Includes Four Drugs to Treat Cancer

January 17, 2025
National

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Biden Administration released the list of 15 drugs for the next round of Medicare price negotiation, including four drugs to treat cancer: Xtandi to treat prostate cancer, Pomalyst to treat multiple myeloma, Ibrance to treat breast cancer, and Calquence to treat blood cancers including Chronic

Access to Health Care Resources

Survivor Views: Preventive Care Coverage, Medical Debt, & Food Insecurity

February 14, 2024

Our latest survey finds that protecting no-cost screenings and preventive care and reducing the burden of medical debt are the most impotant priorities for cancer patients and survivors. This survey also explores the impacts of cancer on food and nutrition insecurity, with impacts felt across income groups and coverage levels.

Factors Influencing Cancer Disparities

January 11, 2024

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) believes everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. No one should be disadvantaged in their fight against cancer because of income, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, or where they live. From preventive screening and early detection, through diagnosis and treatment, and into survivorship, there are several factors that influence cancer disparities among different populations across the cancer continuum.

Impacts of Medical Debt: Findings from a National Survey

October 30, 2023

ACS CAN partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and RIP Medical Debt to conduct a national survey on the impacts of medical debt and high health care costs. Read the full results.