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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Cancer Advocates Urge Gov. Little to Veto HB 913, Legislature’s Latest Assault on Voter-Approved Medicaid Expansion

March 31, 2026
Idaho

BOISE, Idaho –– The Idaho Senate today took another damaging step toward stripping health care coverage from tens of thousands of Idahoans by passing House Bill 913, placing additional government red tape on federally mandated work-reporting requirements. The vote is another in a long series of legislative actions taken against

Advocates Hold Cancer Action Day at State House, Urging Lawmakers to Address Cost of Screening and Treatment

March 25, 2026
Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE —March 26, 2026— Later today, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers will rally at the Rhode Island State House, advocating for legislative proposals that aim to address the needs of patients across the cancer continuum. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS

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

Access to Health Care Resources

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.

Trapped: America's Crippling Medical Debt Crisis

October 30, 2023

ACS CAN teamed up 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 a summary of the results.