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

September 14, 2026
Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Sara Sahli was recognized as the country’s top government relations professional by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in honor of her exceptional work advocating for cancer-fighting public policies. ACS CAN presents the award to a staff person who has consistently demonstrated outstanding

August 18, 2026
Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – A recent poll by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) shows 81% of Wisconsin voters believe all Americans, regardless of the type of health insurance they have, should have access to affordable cancer screening and treatment close to home. Further, in the poll, 63%

August 13, 2026
Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. – A recent poll by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) shows 82% of Kansas voters believe all Americans, regardless of the type of health insurance they have, should have access to affordable cancer screening and treatment close to home. This attitude is also

August 13, 2026
North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. – August 13, 2026 – A recent poll by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) shows 84% of North Carolina voters believe all Americans, regardless of the type of health insurance they have, should have access to affordable cancer screening and treatment close to home.

Access to Health Insurance Resources

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.

The health care law has several provisions that help prevent individuals from experiencing gaps in health insurance coverage, including the requirement that private health insurance plans allow dependents to remain on their parents’ insurance until age 26.  This provision is important for keeping survivors of childhood and young adult cancer insured, and helps to ensure young adults receive preventive services and screenings.  This provision is a crucial patient protection that must be a part of a health care system that works for cancer patients and survivors.

Consumers need access to health insurance policies that cover a full range of evidence-based health care services – including prevention and primary care – necessary to maintain health, avoid disease, overcome acute illness and live with chronic disease.  Any health care system that works for cancer patients must have standards ensuring that enrollees have access to comprehensive health insurance.