On Oct. 8, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) released its latest Survivor Views survey. The survey, which explores the impacts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced tax credits on cancer patients and survivors, shows participants overwhelmingly support extending the enhanced tax credits for people who purchase health coverage through the ACA marketplace.
In this most recent Survivor Views survey, 72% of cancer patients and survivors support extending the ACA enhanced tax credits. 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. Others reported they would have considered a plan that could carry significant financial risk or provide insufficient coverage.
"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 ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse. “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 survey also discovered that 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.
Background
The data in this survey was collected July 26, 2024 – Aug. 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.
ACS CAN has long advocated for public policies, like making permanent the ACA’s enhanced tax credits, to help ensure comprehensive health insurance is more affordable for people to receive the medical coverage they need. With health insurance status being one of the most significant determining factors in surviving a cancer diagnosis, on Sept. 25 ACS CAN fully supported U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Tammy Baldwin’s plan to introduce the Health Care Affordability Act of 2024 bill to make permanent the ACA enhanced tax credits. This bill will help an estimated 20 million people who rely on enhanced tax credits to purchase marketplace plans continue to have affordable options for health insurance coverage, which is critical to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer.
For more information on Survivor Views, visit ACS CAN’s website at www.fightcancer.org/survivor-views.
