Gov. Tony Evers signed Senate Bill 264 last month putting Gail’s Law into effect. The legislation extends health insurance coverage, including BadgerCare, for women with dense breasts — or who are at an increased risk of breast cancer — to get medically necessary supplemental breast screenings or diagnostic breast examinations beginning July 1, 2026, and Jan. 1, 2027.
The act will also extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for thousands of moms across Wisconsin from 60 days to one year, which goes into effect on July 1.
The bill honors Gail Zeamer, a Wisconsinite who died in 2024 after a late-stage diagnosis caused by undetected cancer in dense breast tissue.
According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, 27% of women with breast cancer are not diagnosed until they have already reached Stage III.
Gail’s Law takes effect for members of governmental self-insured health plans, small group health plans and individual market health insurance plans Jan. 1, 2027. Medicaid members will see the change July 1 of this year.
“Gail’s Law ensures the insurance landscape matches the realities of women’s health,” Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) Nathan Houdek said in a statement. “Breast cancer screenings are an important covered benefit in Wisconsin, and Gail’s Law extends this coverage to new types of screenings that can catch cancer earlier and improve lifelong outcomes.”
