Social Security, Medicare Bill Would Speed Up Benefits for Cancer Patients

Social Security and Medicare recipients could see major changes to their benefits if a new bill passes through Congress.

Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino, Republican in New York’s 2nd District, reintroduced the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act, with Democratic support this week. The bill is an attempt to eliminate the waiting period for Social Security and Medicare coverage for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Why It Matters

Roughly 170,000 Americans are living with metastatic breast cancer. These patients are often forced to endure long waiting periods for receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Medicare coverage, and lawmakers say many may end up dying while still on the wait list.

What To Know

Metastatic breast cancer occurs when breast cancer reaches stage 4 and has effectively spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body, like the bones, lungs or liver.

Patients who have metastatic breast cancer often face increased financial need while getting treatment, but current law mandates they still must wait five months before earning any SSDI benefits and 24 months for Medicare coverage.

Garbarino proposed the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act with support from cosponsors Representatives Kathy Castor, Florida Democrat for the 14th District; Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania Republican for the 1st District; and Judy Chu, a Democrat in California’s 28th District.

Lawmakers said that in 2025, it is estimated that almost 43,000 people will die from breast cancer in the U.S., and 90 percent of them from metastatic breast cancer.

If the bill passes, patients would no longer have to wait for benefits to kick in while they seek treatment.

What People Are Saying

Garbarino said in a statement: “Breast cancer affects thousands of families across New York each year, with over 16,800 women diagnosed and around 2,500 lives lost annually. Long Island continues to have one of the highest breast cancer rates in the nation. For those battling metastatic breast cancer—a disease responsible for nearly 90 percent of breast cancer deaths—every moment counts. With a life expectancy that can be as short as four months, there is no justification for forcing patients to endure unnecessary waiting periods for the health benefits they are entitled to. This legislation ensures they get the care they need when they need it, easing the financial strain and allowing them to focus on their fight.”

Castor said in a statement: “To save lives and improve breast cancer outcomes, we must increase access to affordable, high-quality care for individuals with MBC while also continuing to invest in research for treatments and cures. Our bipartisan bill would eliminate barriers and reduce current health disparities by immediately connecting recently diagnosed, eligible individuals with access to treatment. People diagnosed with MBC should not have to worry about long waiting periods for eligibility to care.”

Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “While these changes may not apply to everyone, they would be applicable to a very important group of those diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer who rely on these benefits. Speeding up the process would be a financial grant changer for them, especially considering the inflationary pressures on healthcare products and services.”

Martha Shedden, president and cofounder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, told Newsweek: “Patients with metastatic breast cancer face significant financial and medical hardships, struggling to support themselves and access the critical care they need. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease, under the current rules, many do not live long enough to utilize the SSDI and Medicare benefits they qualify for.”

What Happens Next

While the bill has received bipartisan support, it could still face pushback by lawmakers concerned about the financial consequences of expanding Social Security and Medicare coverage.

The Social Security Administration is dealing with a funding crisis that could see the agency run out of money for full payments as early as the mid-2030s.

“This is one of many proposals aimed at expanding benefit access at a time when many are looking for more efficiency, meaning that even with the best of intentions, this bill could fall on deaf legislative ears,” Beene said.