Access to Health Insurance

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As Congress considers changes to the Affordable Care Act, it is critically important that lawmakers maintain the patient protections that are so important to cancer patients and survivors, and ensure insurance coverage is truly affordable.  

We can never go back to the day when cancer patients couldn’t get health insurance coverage because they exceeded a lifetime limit or are denied coverage just because they survived cancer.  And, we must ensure they don’t experience any gap in their health insurance coverage and that their policies are truly affordable.

A study conducted by the American Cancer Society showed that people who are uninsured or underinsured are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at its more advanced stages when treatment is more expensive and patients are more likely to die from the disease.

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Another Chance to Vote NO on Medicaid Cuts

 

The House is about to vote on the Senate-passed version of the bill, including drastic cuts to Medicaid that countless cancer patients rely on, for signature. Call your Reps today and urge them to vote NO.
 

Latest Updates

April 22, 2025
Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – April 22, 2025 – “We continue to have grave concerns about the harmful effects SB84 and HB477 would have on Alabamians, especially after the failure of amendments that would have added oversight and patient protections. There’s a reason why these plans are currently illegal. If state lawmakers

April 9, 2025
National

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a budget resolution that could lead to devastating cuts to Medicaid.

April 8, 2025
North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. -– Prior authorization reform legislation cleared the House on Tuesday and state cancer advocates look forward to the North Dakota State Senate concurring and Gov. Kelly Armstrong signing Senate Bill 2280 into law. For the more than 4,500 North Dakotans who will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025,

April 4, 2025
Georgia

ATLANTA – April 4, 2025 – As Georgia lawmakers wrap up the 2025 legislative session Friday, patient advocacy organization leaders with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Lung Association and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) have released the following

Access to Health Insurance Resources

High deductible health plans (HDHPs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) are becoming more common in employer-sponsored insurance and the individual and small group markets.  These types of plans have risks and features must be implemented carefully so they do not harm cancer patients, survivors or those at risk for cancer.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped individuals with pre-existing conditions like cancer access comprehensive health insurance and afford their care. But the law is at risk of being dismantled.

This ACS CAN report focuses specifically on the costs of cancer borne by patients in active treatment as well as survivors.  It examines the factors contributing to the cost of cancer care, the type of direct costs patients pay, and the indirect costs associated with cancer.