Access to Health Care

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

Congress: Commit to voting NO on any cuts to Medicaid

We're still in this fight for cancer patients, and we need you in it, too. Send a message to your members of Congress right now urging them to commit to vote no on any cuts to Medicaid in any form.

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Utah Cancer Community Pushes Back Against Proposed Medicaid Work Requirements

May 14, 2025

Utah

Volunteer advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and the newly-formed Protect Medicaid Utah coalition gathered Wednesday afternoon to oppose work requirements for Medicaid which is currently being considered by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Plan to Cut Medicaid Will Lead to More Suffering and Death from Cancer

May 12, 2025

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee released a budget proposal late last night that would drastically slash funding for Medicaid by $715 billion. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that these cuts will result in at least 8.6 million people losing coverage with no access to affordable health insurance options.

Colorado Cancer Advocates Ask Rep. Gabe Evans to Protect Medicaid by Opposing Cuts

May 12, 2025

Colorado

Today, Colorado advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) delivered over 200 postcards signed by constituents to Rep. Gabe Evans’ district office in Northglenn, urging him to protect Medicaid by opposing any cuts to the program. The postcards highlighted how looming cuts to Medicaid would harm millions of Coloradans, including working families, cancer patients and survivors, pregnant women, people with disabilities, seniors, veterans and children.

New York State Budget Fails to Address Paid Leave

May 8, 2025

New York

This week, New York state leaders released details on the state budget for FY 2025-26 and patient advocates are responding with disappointment over the failure to produce solutions to improve New Yorkers’ access to paid leave and, with it, their financial mobility. The same advocates visited Albany last month for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) annual Cancer Action Day to promote the importance of Senate Bill 172/Assembly Bill 84, the proposal to improve New Yorkers’ access to time off during treatment which now has 73 Assembly co-sponsors and passed the Senate in March.