Access to Health Care

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Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care. 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 health care costs. 

We are working in every state and in Congress to expand health care 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.

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National

How has access to affordable, comprehensive health care impacted you?

One of ACS CAN’s top priorities in 2025 and beyond will be to protect critical patient protections in the health care law and maintain access to affordable, quality health coverage. Your story can help. 

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National

Urge Congress to support access to cutting-edge cancer treatments

“Many cancer patients have to choose between life and death when it comes to cancer and what they can afford for treatment."  Contact your Member of Congress to help cancer patients have a brighter future.

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Latest Updates

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Healey Signs Bill to Address Breast Cancer Screening Inequities

November 15, 2024
Massachusetts

Legislation will eliminate costly barriers to follow up breast cancer screening

Ballot Passage in South Dakota Puts Work Requirements Back on the Table; Voters Reject Measure that Could Have Undone Efforts to Reduce Tobacco Use

November 6, 2024
National

South Dakota voters on Tuesday passed Amendment F, which would change the state constitution to allow for work requirements to be added to the state’s Medicaid expansion program.

Public Health Leaders Sound Alarm on South Dakota Ballot Measure

October 31, 2024
South Dakota

PIERRE, SD – Ahead of Election Day next week, leaders from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the American Lung Association and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids express their concerns around South Dakota Initiated Measure 28, urging South Dakotans to vote “no” on the ballot measure. Introduced

35 Patient, Provider and Physician Groups File Amicus Brief Urging the U.S. Supreme Court to Protect Lifesaving Preventive Care Without Patient Cost Sharing  

October 21, 2024
National

Today 35 organizations, representing millions of patients with serious health conditions and thousands of health care professionals, filed an amicus curiae, or “friend-of-the-court,” brief in the case of Braidwood v. Becerra at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Access to Health Care Resources

Survivor Views: Preventive Care Coverage, Medical Debt, & Food Insecurity

February 14, 2024

Our latest survey finds that protecting no-cost screenings and preventive care and reducing the burden of medical debt are the most impotant priorities for cancer patients and survivors. This survey also explores the impacts of cancer on food and nutrition insecurity, with impacts felt across income groups and coverage levels.

Factors Influencing Cancer Disparities

January 11, 2024

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) believes everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. No one should be disadvantaged in their fight against cancer because of income, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, or where they live. From preventive screening and early detection, through diagnosis and treatment, and into survivorship, there are several factors that influence cancer disparities among different populations across the cancer continuum.

Impacts of Medical Debt: Findings from a National Survey

October 30, 2023

ACS CAN partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and RIP Medical Debt to conduct a national survey on the impacts of medical debt and high health care costs. Read the full results.