Bill · S. 3872· Senate(119-S-3872)
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for wigs as durable medical equipment under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- 2/12/2026
- Last activity
- 2/12/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Richard Blumenthal
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill seeks to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act. The primary goal is to provide coverage for wigs, referred to as cranial prostheses, as durable medical equipment under the Medicare program. This coverage would apply when a dermatologist, oncologist, or attending physician certifies in writing that the prosthesis is medically necessary. This necessity must be part of a proposed course of rehabilitative treatment or due to hair loss caused by health conditions like cancer, chemotherapy, or autoimmune diseases.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+5
The expansion of Medicare coverage provides direct financial relief to seniors facing medical hair loss.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
Individuals on Medicare who may have limited resources will benefit from covered hair loss treatments.
Would middle-income households be better off under this?+5
The bill reduces out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-eligible individuals requiring cranial prostheses.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Medicare coverage for cranial prostheses: The bill would allow individuals to have wigs covered as durable medical equipment if they are medically necessary due to hair loss from conditions such as cancer, chemotherapy, or autoimmune diseases (Section 1.a).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Middle Class Households+5Good For Retirees+5Good For Seniors+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5Increases Medicare Funding+5
- 2/12/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.