Increasing and Protecting Access to Medicaid

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Research consistently shows people without health insurance are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at later stages, when the disease is harder to treat, more costly and patient outcomes are poorer. Yet Medicaid provides almost 80 million people in America health coverage to get regular check-ups to stay healthy, see a doctor when they are sick, detect diseases like cancer early to give them the best chance of surviving, access medications and treatments they need, and go to the hospital in an emergency. 

We are working to protect and expand access to Medicaid for people impacted by cancer across the country. 

Any cuts to Medicaid funding could jeopardize essential care for people with cancer and make it harder for many to receive cancer screenings to help diagnose cancer early. 

Additionally, we are working to expand Medicaid in the remaining 10 states that have not increased access to their Medicaid programs.  Going to the doctor is much cheaper than going to the emergency room. And, for a family, preventing cancer is much less expensive than treating it. 

We know how to save lives from cancer.  And we know how to save money on health care costs. Ensuring that low-income working families have access to affordable health insurance – especially during tough times – is an important first step.  

  

Medicaid provides critical, affordable health coverage to millions of children, seniors, people with disabilities, and other low-income individuals and families in America, including countless cancer patients and survivors.

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Health Care in Crisis: What Coverage Losses Mean for Cancer Patients and the Road Ahead

Congress voted to make the biggest cuts to Medicaid in history. RSVP to our virtual event on July 10th where you'll here from ACS CAN’s President and other experts to learn more about the bill that was passed, the impact you made, and what happens next.
 

Latest Updates

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 2, 2025
Maine

ACS CAN Thanks Maine Senators for Voting to Protect Medicaid

June 20, 2025
New Jersey

Last night, advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), NJ Citizen Action and the NJ Black Empowerment Coalition convened a roundtable discussion on the impacts of the budget reconciliation bill in front of Congress on Americans’ access to Medicaid and Marketplace coverage.

June 17, 2025
Colorado

Health advocates from across Colorado expressed concerns Tuesday morning during a virtual press conference hosted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) over the impact looming Medicaid cuts and changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace will have on Coloradans, specifically cancer patients, and the state’s rural population.

Increasing and Protecting Access to Medicaid Resources

ACS CAN and Manatt Health estimated the amount of coverage loss and funding losses that would be caused if the House-passed budget reconciliation bill became law. 

As Congress and the administration consider changes to federal spending that could severely cut Medicaid funding and impact state budgets, some facts are getting lost in the debate.

In 2023 10% of adults with a history of cancer in the U.S. relied on Medicaid for their health care. Access to affordable health insurance is crucial for individuals to receive necessary care, especially for those with chronic conditions like cancer. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network opposes cuts to the Medicaid program, as these cuts will make it harder for many people to receive preventive services and cancer screenings, cancer treatments and health care in survivorship.