Congress·In Committee·S. 3442

Senate Bill Would End Medicare, Disability Waiting Periods for Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: Congress Moves to Eliminate Waiting Periods for Metastatic Breast Cancer Benefits

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

Ends the usual waiting period for Social Security disability benefits for people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
Waives the usual 24-month wait for Medicare coverage for people with metastatic breast cancer.
This could help patients get income support and health coverage sooner, when treatment needs are urgent.
The changes would apply to new disability applications filed after the law is enacted.
Medicare changes would start for months after the law is enacted, speeding up coverage for eligible patients.

HealthcareMedicare MedicaidSocial Security

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Positive Impacts(5)

Medicare

Helps

Social Security

Helps

Disability Benefits

Helps

Chronic Illness

Helps

Child Tax Credit

Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Dec 11, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Dec 11, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Immediately after enactment, for SSDI applications filed after enactment

After the Act is enacted, new SSDI applications from people with metastatic breast cancer would not face the usual SSDI waiting period.

Eligible people who can’t work could start receiving disability checks sooner, helping pay for basics like rent, groceries, and utilities during treatment.

The first month after enactment (benefits for months beginning after enactment)

After the Act is enacted, Medicare’s 24-month waiting period tied to disability would be waived for metastatic breast cancer for months beginning after enactment.

Eligible people could get Medicare coverage much faster instead of waiting two years, improving access to cancer care and lowering out-of-pocket costs.

Within weeks to a few months after enactment

Social Security and Medicare systems would update rules, forms, and training to apply the new metastatic breast cancer exception.

People should see fewer denials based on waiting periods, but there may be a short adjustment period while agencies implement the change.

Related News

2 articles

WXXI News·5 months ago

Advocates say a New York congresswoman is blocking care for people with incurable breast cancer

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act would waive the five-month waiting period for SSDI and the 24-month delay for Medicare. Advocates argue patients cannot afford to wait for a disease with an average survival of two to four years, but some lawmakers have resisted the bill.

CL~

The Hill·about 3 years ago

The government must act now to improve the lives of people with terminal breast cancer

This piece argues for the passage of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act to waive the 5-month and 24-month waiting periods for SSDI and Medicare, ensuring terminal patients receive the benefits they earned before they succumb to the disease.

C+