State Senator Mary Edly-Allen passed a new law to fill gaps in current breast cancer screening coverage to ensure that all Illinoisans are able to receive screening that accurately detects breast cancer. “We must ensure we are putting people’s health over profit, and require insurance plans to cover all medically necessary tests – not just the bare minimum,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “Unfortunately, insurance companies may deny further testing that is needed beyond a mammogram. This lack of testing can lead to life-threatening situations for those who cannot afford additional tests.” In Illinois, insurers must cover mammography screenings for women ages 35 and older. Under the new law, all health insurance plans, including Medicaid, must cover magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and molecular breast imaging (MBI) if medically necessary, or if a mammogram shows heterogeneous or dense breast tissue, so that all plans align. “If we are committed to making healthcare available at an affordable price to everyone, effective breast cancer screenings have to be part of the effort. However, millions of patients with dense breasts are being forced to live with screening options that don’t work for them. For the health of those patients, medical coverage must expand to include Molecular Breast Imaging,” said State Representative Nabeela Syed (D-Palatine). House Bill 4180 was signed into law Friday, Aug. 9, 2024 and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2026.