Moylan-Sponsored Legislation to Fully Cover Breast Cancer Screenings Becomes Law

DES PLAINES, Ill. – In an effort to protect breast cancer screenings for women, state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, sponsored legislation to guarantee that insurance fully covers a second breast cancer screening if needed following an initial screening.

“Breast cancer screenings are vitally important to the health and well-being of women all over Illinois,” said Moylan. “The screenings could help save lives, and insurance should cover breast cancer screenings whether they’re preventative or something more serious.”

Currently under the law, regularly scheduled mammograms for screenings are considered “preventative” and are full-covered by insurance. However, once a finding of cancer or other condition is found, a follow-up mammogram is no longer considered preventative and therefore is no longer fully-covered with no cost to the patient. The Moylan-backed legislation would reform the current law and mandate that insurance also cover follow-up mammograms at no extra cost to the patient. 

Senate Bill 162 was an initiative of the Susan G. Komen Foundation along with the Illinois Public Health Association. Moylan worked with colleagues across the aisle in both the House and the Senate to get Senate Bill 162 to pass unanimously. The Moylan-sponsored legislation was signed into law late last month.

“This was a no-brainer. I believe its common-sense that women shouldn’t have to carry the cost of such live-saving screenings,” said Moylan. “I would like to thank the governor for taking this issue seriously and for signing the bill into law to protect vital breast cancer screenings for Illinois residents.”