The Pink Ride

Beginning in 2026, breast cancer testing will be more affordable in Virginia.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed two bills into law on Monday, March 24 — House Bill 1828 and Senate Bill 1436 — which both have to do with the cost of breast cancer screenings.

“If you can imagine going into a doctor’s office and having a surprise $500 out of pocket costs — so many families, so many women can’t afford that, and they will walk right out of the office instead of getting that breast examination done,” said Del. Shelly Simonds (D-Newport News). “The bill is really about affordability and making sure that there are no barriers to care out there.”

Under this legislation, health insurance companies will be prohibited from charging patients co-pays, deductibles or any other fees for breast cancer testing like mammograms, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) or breast ultrasounds.

“If it’s an aunt, a grandmother, a mother — any family history, you can go talk to your doctor and ask them, or tell them about that history and get your mammogram prior to the age of 40,” she said. “They just have to work with your insurance or code it properly and then they can get that done every year.”

These bills will become law starting in 2026.