Access to Health Insurance

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As Congress considers changes to the Affordable Care Act, and as recently passed cuts to affordable health care take effect, we are committed to safeguarding the patient protections that are so important to cancer patients and survivors, and ensuring 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.

Latest Updates

August 18, 2025
Montana

HELENA, Mont. -- The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) registered strong objections to Montana’s Medicaid 1115 waiver request today in comments filed with the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services. Approval of the waiver would make Montana an early adopter of new federal Medicaid provisions

July 3, 2025
National

Following U.S. House passage of the budget bill containing the most devastating cuts to Medicaid in history and changes to the ACA Marketplace that will make it more expensive and difficult to obtain and keep health insurance, ACS CAN expresses deep disappointment and urges Congress to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits.

July 1, 2025
North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. – July 1, 2025 – Today the U.S. Senate passed the budget reconciliation bill H.R. 1, by a vote of 51 to 50. John Broome, North Carolina government relations director with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) released the following statement: “Congress is making an

May 30, 2025
Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A broad coalition of 10 Tennessee advocacy organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will hold a news conference in front of the offices of Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty on Tuesday, June 3, at 11 a.m. at the Fred D. Thompson

Access to Health Insurance Resources

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.

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 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.