A group of patient advocates with representatives from all 50 states are meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss access and care needs of those with life-threatening conditions.

The Patient Advocate Foundation is seeking legislative action to ensure patients have access to the care they need.

PAE chief executive officer Nancy Davenport-Ennis says that that last year, two-thirds of the patients that contacted the foundation for assistance were struggling financially because of health care expenses. Eighty percent of those patients reported struggling even though they had health insurance.

"We are committed to creating programs and services that ensure no patient is turned away and that all people receive the quality care they need and deserve," says Davenport-Ennis. "We will continue working with Congressional leaders to ensure that patients across the nation are protected from health care discrimination and the many forms that it takes."

Health care costs can run so high that they deplete whole savings accounts. Earlier this month, the American Cancer Society released results from a poll that revealed a third of cancer victims had difficulty paying for basic needs like food and housing.