Access to Healthcare

Share

Every American deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare. 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 healthcare costs. 

We are working in every state and in Congress to expand healthcare 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.

Take Action

One Nation Overcharged coalition logo

We are One Nation, Overcharged

And together, we're fighting for a healthcare system that puts people first. Sign up to help make healthcare a right! 

Latest Updates

July 10, 2026
Hawaii

Gov. Josh Green took a major step toward treating and preventing colorectal cancer in Hawai’i by signing HB 1969 into law which establishes a state-funded financial assistance program to offer screenings for uninsured and underinsured individuals and treatment for uninsured individuals. Follow up colonoscopies required after a non-invasive screening will

June 23, 2026
Arizona

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) applauds Gov. Katie Hobbs for signing a bill to improve access and remove financial barriers to lifesaving breast cancer screenings. SB1165, which passed with significant bipartisan majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature, will ensure the full continuum of medically

June 4, 2026
New York

The New York State Senate began its wrap up of the 2026 legislative session by advancing bipartisan legislation (Senate Bill 172b) that would improve New Yorkers’ access to paid medical leave through the state’s Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) Program. Despite overwhelming support from the Assembly majority conference, the companion legislation (Assembly Bill 9571a) is not expected to be taken up before the Assembly adjourns. Advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) are expressing their disappointment that the Assembly may allow the effort to fail for the third year in a row.

June 1, 2026
National

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released today an interim final rule on work requirement implementation in Medicaid.

Access to Healthcare Resources

Pharmacists are playing an increasingly important public health role, in part due to the widespread presence of pharmacies in communities, with nearly 89% of people in the U.S.

ACS CAN’s Vaccination Policies and the Impact on the Cancer Community: The Important Role of Childhood Immunization report outlines the critical importance of childhood immunizations for people with cancer and their families, and why maintaining high vaccination coverage among ch

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) submitted comments to the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA’s) on their proposed new quality measure for HEDIS measurement year (MY) 2027 related to follow-up after positive colorectal