SPRINGFIELD, Ill.–To prevent instances of insurance companies excluding preventative breast cancer screenings, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, spearheaded a new law requiring all insurance plans to cover preventative testing which became law on August 21.
"As the husband of a breast cancer survivor, I know how important it is to detect this aggressive disease as early as possible, and I don't want any woman in Illinois to go without the testing they deserve," Smiddy said. "This new law makes sure insurance companies can't say no to proven life-saving screening."
Smiddy credits his wife's survival over breast cancer in large part due to early detection. He introduced House Bill 3673 to ensure all Illinois women in Illinois have access to the same resources. The bill requires every insurance plan in Illinois to include breast cancer screening for all women 35 years and older. Under the previous law, breast cancer screening was available for low-income families through the state. However, women not meeting the income requirements could have their testing left of their private plans. The new law requires preventative testing be available under every insurance plan serving Illinois residents. Additionally, a grant program is created to increase testing centers in rural, medically underserved areas.
"This law is an important step in the ongoing fight against breast cancer, and will help thousands of women across Illinois receive the testing they need," Smiddy said. "Our family had to face an enormous challenge when my wife was diagnosed, and no family should be without the lifesaving testing that we know saves lives because insurance companies want to save money."
House Bill 3673 received bipartisan support in both houses of the General Assembly and was signed by the governor on August 21. The legislation has an immediate effective date but residents are urged to contact their insurance providers to ensure their plans have been updated and include the new regulations.
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