Cancer prevention, early detection and timely treatment save lives, and Medicaid plays a central role in ensuring people can access that vital care. Medicaid is a lifeline for more than 2 million Americans with cancer, providing coverage for 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 3 children with a history of cancer. By increasing access to affordable care, including screenings, diagnostic tests, treatments, medications, surgeries and follow-up care, Medicaid improves outcomes across the cancer continuum.
Research shows that Medicaid coverage, and particularly Medicaid expansion coverage, is associated with increased screening rates for colorectal and breast cancers, as well as decreased mortality for breast, pancreatic, lung and colorectal cancers. Importantly, these improvements are observed across stages of cancer, race, ethnicity and treatment modalities.
MMA partner Cancer Nation provides real-life testimonies highlighting the importance of Medicaid’s services and financial protections for people living with cancer.
- For DeAnna, a North Carolina resident diagnosed with blood cancer, Medicaid provided access to the treatment she needed. After her state expanded its Medicaid program, DeAnna was able to get a critical stem cell transplant. Expanding access to Medicaid coverage saved her life.
- After Kristen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, Medicaid gave her the power to move forward. Medicaid covered Kristen’s treatments, including radiation and multiple surgeries, helping her heal without the added burden of medical debt.
For more on Medicaid’s support for people diagnosed with cancer, including personal stories from individuals for whom Medicaid has made a huge difference, visit MMA partner American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Medicaid Covers US campaign.
Recent changes to Medicaid under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) such as work requirements and increased eligibility checks will create additional barriers to accessing coverage and care, putting these benefits at risk.
A study from JAMA Oncology projects that subsequent Medicaid coverage losses will result in over 1 million missed cancer screenings and hundreds of avoidable deaths over the next two years. These findings emphasize the substantial impact Medicaid access has for patients with cancer and underscores the importance of thoughtful implementation of these policies to avoid unnecessary coverage loss, especially as the number of young people diagnosed with cancer increases.
As OBBBA is implemented, policymakers must recognize the critical role of Medicaid in fighting cancer and ensure continued access to coverage for those who need it most.
To learn more about Medicaid’s vital role, visit https://modernmedicaid.org/.