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New Survey Finds Cancer Patients and Survivors Overwhelmingly Support Extending the ACA Enhanced Tax Credits
ACS CAN Calls on Congress to Make Permanent the Affordable Care Act Enhanced Tax Credits
October 8, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Seventy-two percent of cancer patients and survivors support extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits, according to the latest Survivor Views survey released today by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Further, 43% of those surveyed who reported benefiting from the enhanced tax credits say they could not have afforded to enroll in a health plan without the tax credits while others would have considered a plan that could carry significant financial risk or provide insufficient coverage.
“Cancer patients and survivors are uniquely aware of the importance of affordable, quality health insurance with research showing health coverage is a significant determining factor in surviving a cancer diagnosis,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN. “The ACA enhanced tax credits removed a barrier to affordable health care coverage, providing a lifeline for the 20 million people nationwide benefiting from them. Without these tax credits, these individuals would likely have no option for quality, affordable health insurance. If these tax credits expire, it will be catastrophic.”
If the enhanced tax credits are no longer available after they expire in 2025, 30% of those receiving tax credits said they would skip or delay health care to reduce expenses, more than one-quarter (27%) would cut non-health expenses, 25% would cancel their coverage, while another 25% said they would accumulate debt in order to keep their coverage and 20% would cut health expenses. Almost one-in-five (19%) said they would borrow from their retirement savings to afford their care. Twelve percent responded that they did not expect to survive their cancer without the tax credits since they would not be able to afford treatment.
"As part of this survey, we were troubled to find some respondents say they would consider filing for bankruptcy or selling their house in order to afford care if these tax credits go away," said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “Forcing cancer patients and survivors to pull from retirement funds or go into debt to pay for the quality health coverage they need to survive is unacceptable. ACS CAN is urging Congress to hear these stories and take action to make the ACA enhanced tax credits permanent before they expire.”
The data in this survey was collected July 26, 2024 – August 30, 2024. A total of 1,597 cancer patients and survivors responded to the survey. ACS CAN’s Survivor Views research initiative was designed to support the organization’s efforts to end suffering and death from cancer through public policy advocacy. Data provided by cancer patients and survivors allows for a greater understanding of their experiences and opinions on cancer-related issues and gives voice to cancer patients and survivors in the shaping and advocating of public policies that help prevent, detect and treat cancer and promote a more positive quality of life for those impacted.
Read the full polling memo here.
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