Access to Health Insurance

Share

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.

Take Action

mid_adult_woman_fighting_cancer_faces_camera

Join us for Medicaid's Online Day of Action

Members of Congress recently introduced a bill that slashes funding for Medicaid. Join us today in urging your Member of Congress to #ProtectMedicaid for cancer patients across the country.

Latest Updates

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.

May 6, 2025
South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. – May 6, 2025 – The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services held a public hearing today regarding plans to submit a waiver request to establish Palmetto Pathways, a program that would set strict eligibility requirements for Medicaid recipients who are parents. In response,

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.

Access to Health Insurance Resources

Current federal requirements prohibit health insurance plans from denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions like cancer.  These are one of several important patient protections that must be part of any health care system that works for cancer patients.

Current federal law has several provisions that help prevent individuals and families from experiencing gaps in their health insurance coverage.  Coverage gaps can delay necessary care, which is particularly detrimental to cancer patients and survivors.  Preventing gaps in coverage is a crucial patient protection that must be maintained in our health care and insurance system.

Current federal law provides life-saving coverage of cancer prevention and early detection services and programs.  These provisions are crucial to reducing the incidence and impact of cancer in the United States.  They are also crucial in helping cancer survivors remain cancer-free and lead healthy lives.