March 11, 2025 – Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) reintroduced the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act. Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Judy Chu (D-CA-28) co-led this bipartisan legislation to eliminate waiting periods for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Medicare coverage for those with metastatic breast cancer.
“The life expectancy of those diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer is, on average, three years. This legislation will solve the urgent problem that women and men are dying before they can access earned benefits that they are legally entitled to,” said Fran Visco, President of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. “We are grateful to Reps. Garbarino, Castor, Fitzpatrick and Chu for their leadership to close the loophole, and the NBCC advocate community is ready to work with them to ensure this legislation becomes law.”
Learn more about the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act, what it means to those affected by the 24-month waiting period for Medicare and the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits, and how you can help the bill move forward.
