ACTION: NOW NOT LATER

The American Cancer Society and ACS CAN are in the business of saving lives, which means preventing cancer or finding it early, seeking new cures, and caring for those in treatment. But the problem is millions of people with inadequate insurance or no insurance at all are going without lifesaving screenings and treatments, and many are going deep into debt to pay for care they can't afford.

For the first time in years, Washington is talking about enacting comprehensive health care reform. It's vital that ACS CAN fights for legislation that will save lives through prevention, meaningful coverage and improved quality of life.

1 of 5

Cancer and Health Care Reform

Winning the war on cancer depends on expanding access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

ACS CAN views the issue through the eyes of cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones. We are the movement with the power to make the voice of the cancer community heard.

2 of 5

Prevention Saves Lives and Money

Many cancers can be prevented or treated easily if caught at an early stage. But the millions of Americans with inadequate insurance or no insurance at all don't have access to these life-saving screenings and treatments. In order to save lives and money in the long-run, we must transform the current health care system, which focuses on treatment, into one that strongly promotes prevention.

3 of 5

Coverage Counts

No one should have to choose between saving her life and her life savings, but the current health care system puts many Americans in that predicament. Imagine being told by your insurance company that your plan caps out at $10,000 for out-patient treatment when the out-patient treatment you need is expected to cost 10 times that amount. Your life may depend on putting your financial security at risk. What makes a health care plan affordable?

4 of 5

Survivorship

Cancer survivorship should be celebrated but in our current health care structure, cancer survivors and cancer patients can be left with no coverage options. Regardless of their history or current health status, these Americans should be able to buy health insurance just like anyone else.

5 of 5

    Learn more by viewing our brief online training or browse our complete resource listing below:

    LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS

    ACS CAN SENT LETTER TO CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP OUTLINES STRONG PROVISIONS THAT WOULD GREATLY IMPROVE HEALTH SYSTEM FOR CANCER PATIENTS
    On January 11, ACS CAN sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging lawmakers to keep the needs of cancer patients in mind when negotiating a final health care reform bill. In the letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, ACS CAN also identified key priorities that need to be addressed as lawmakers work to merge House and Senate versions of the legislation.
    ACS CAN LETTER SENT TO HOUSE LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORT OF THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICA ACT (H.R. 3962)
    On November 5, 2009, ACS CAN announced its support of health care legislation proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives. In a letter to House leaders, ACS CAN, said the proposed legislation has the potential to take the fight against cancer in this country to a new level.
    ACS CAN POLICY DOCUMENTS
    *Many documents were developed in partnership with the American Cancer Society

    THE 4 A'S OF MEANINGFUL HEALTH INSURANCE
    ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society believe meaningful health insurance must include adequate, available, affordable, and administratively simple health insurance coverage for all without regard to health status or risk.
    STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES ON PREVENTION IN A TRANSFORMED HEALTH SYSTEM
    We cannot reduce cancer incidence and mortality without a strong and sustained societal investment in prevention on the community, health care system and individual levels.
    STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES ON THE ROLE AND CONSIDERATION OF COSTS IN HEALTH CARE TREATMENT AND COVERAGE
    It is a fundamental principle of the American Cancer Society that the goal of the nation's health care system should be to ensure well-being. The Society supports the following principles in addressing costs in the health care system.
    EXPANDING ACCESS TO BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING TESTS
    National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides low-income, uninsured, and underserved women access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services.
    ENSURING COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING FOR ALL AMERICANS
    Colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented through screening. ACS CAN is committed to increasing access to quality colorectal cancer screening, treatment and follow-up care for all adults.
    EXPANDING COVERAGE OF TOBACCO CESSATION IN MEDICAID
    Preventing tobacco-related disease is important in reducing the number of cancer deaths. ACS CAN is working to expand tobacco cessation coverage for the full range of evidence-based cessation services in all state Medicaid programs.
    MAKING PALLIATIVE CARE A HEALTH SYSTEM PRIORITY
    A presentation by Dr. Elmer Huerta, ACS's Volunteer Board Chair, which explains the role of palliative care as a means to help reduce suffering and improve quality of life.
    PUBLISHED STUDIES

    NEW REPORT SPOTLIGHTS HEALTH INSURANCE GAPS FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY CANCER AMID HARD ECONOMIC TIMES
    A new report by the American Cancer Society and the Kaiser Family Foundation profiles six cancer patients and survivors and the challenges they face to help gauge how the recession is affecting workers who are most in need of ongoing medical care.
    A BENCHMARK FOR COVERAGE
    How affordable is the most popular federal government health care plan for cancer patients? ACS CAN partnered with Georgetown University to analyze the plan and discovered that while it's a good plan for the healthy, even the insured could be faced with a very heavy financial burden if diagnosed with cancer.
    THE NEED FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM THROUGH THE EYES OF CANCER PATIENTS: A NATIONAL POLL
    Survey results show that cancer patients are not receiving accessible, affordable health care and overwhelmingly express the urgency needed to reform America’s health care system into one that better supports cancer patients.
    SPENDING TO SURVIVE: CANCER PATIENTS CONFRONT HOLES IN THE HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEM
    A report from the American Cancer Society and the Kaiser Family Foundation highlighting the health care system's financial squeeze on cancer patients.
    CANCER AND MEDICARE: A CHART BOOK
    This report highlights Medicare information through charts to provide an overview of cancer among the elderly. The chart book shows how many elderly are getting cancer and dying from the disease, how many are using cancer-screening services, and how much Medicare spends on cancer.
    NATIONAL SURVEY OF FAMILIES AFFECTED BY CANCER
    Major bipartisan study examines how families affected by cancer are faring in the current economic and health care environments.