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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Washington Lawmakers Missed Opportunity to Protect Access to Cancer Prevention, Detection Resources  

April 27, 2026
Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash. – – Washington residents continue to face soaring health insurance costs and hundreds of thousands are at risk of losing life-saving coverage this year following changes to Medicaid. The Washington Legislature didn’t do enough to help that situation in its 2026 session and too many in the state

Sen. Chang Files Legislation to Ensure All Copays Count: Advocates Applaud Efforts to End Copay Accumulator Policies

April 23, 2026
Michigan

Sen. Stephanie Chang introduced legislation that would address insurance companies' copay accumulator adjustment programs and ensure Michiganders receive the total value of prescription drug assistance to afford their treatments, improving access to care for Michiganders.

North Carolinians’ Health on the Line in New Medicaid Bill

April 22, 2026
North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina General Assembly is considering a Medicaid bill with unnecessary risks that could be life-threatening for North Carolinians. The bill creates a worst-case scenario for the implementation of the Medicaid cost-sharing and work requirements from the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed in

Iowa Legislators Restrict Access to HPV Vaccine that Prevents Cancer  

April 14, 2026
Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa – “Iowa has the 2nd highest cancer rates in the country, and our cancer incidence continues to rise year over year. The state legislature’s vote to restrict access to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for minors will make our cancer crisis worse. Childhood vaccinations are a powerful

Access to Health Care Resources

The Costs of Cancer in the Hispanic/Latino Community

October 19, 2022

Hispanic/Latino people facing cancer and survivors experience high costs, and are more likely than White counterparts to be uninsured and experience serious financial hardship.

Telehealth for People Living with and Beyond Cancer

March 1, 2022

Telehealth visits that enable providers to deliver clinical services from a distance using options like video conferencing and remote monitoring can provide cancer patients and survivors with a convenient means of accessing both cancer care and primary care.

Cancer Biomarker Testing

July 22, 2020

Advances in precision medicine have led to targeted cancer therapies that have improved patient outcomes and quality of life within populations of cancer patients with very specific biomarkers. Testing patients for cancer biomarkers is integral to identify those who may benefit from targeted therapy. Despite the importance of such testing, many cancer patients are not tested for biomarkers. This fact sheet highlights recent advancements in targeted cancer therapies and data from ACS CAN Survivor Views surveys of cancer patients and survivors assessing barriers to biomarker testing.