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

September 8, 2025

In just a few days, nearly 750 cancer advocates will arrive in Washington, D.C. to participate in ACS CAN’s annual Leadership Summit & Lobby Day (LS&LD), a 3-day event where volunteers meet with their congressional delegation to advocate for critical cancer issues. But the event is also an all-encompassing opportunity

August 18, 2025
Montana

HELENA, Mont. -- The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) registered strong objections to Montana’s Medicaid 1115 waiver request today in comments filed with the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services. Approval of the waiver would make Montana an early adopter of new federal Medicaid provisions

August 14, 2025
New York

Earlier today, a new bill was introduced in the New York City Council to improve New Yorkers’ access to cancer screening. Int. #1369-2025 will require all private employers with a staff of five or more to grant employees paid time off—up to five hours annually—for preventative medical care, including doctor-recommend screening, ensuring that fear of wage or job loss does not serve as a barrier to workers’ ability to prevent, detect and ultimately survive cancer.

July 10, 2025
Delaware

The Delaware General Assembly recently passed Senate Bill 156 with strong bipartisan support, advancing the effort to reform medical debt collection practices in the First State. The bill will now go to Governor Meyer’s desk, providing him with the opportunity to limit the burden of medical debt on Delaware families.

Access to Health Care Resources

ACS CAN and partner organizations provided comments on the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Considerations for Selected Oncology Drugs.

ACS and ACS CAN provided comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the list of Part D drugs selected for the price negotiation program authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Half of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) cancer patients and survivors report they are concerned about facing discrimination in a health care setting. More than one-third have experienced discrimination in a healthcare setting, with significant impacts on their care.