Medicaid Through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program
Updated on July 21, 2025
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer or a precancerous breast condition and you need health insurance, you may be able to get Medicaid insurance through your state’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP). This may be true even if your income is too high to qualify for other Medicaid programs in your state.
Every state and the District of Columbia has a BCCTP that provides Medicaid coverage to certain eligible people who have received a breast cancer diagnosis. The coverage can be much less expensive than other types of insurance. In fact, depending on the state you live in and your income, the coverage might be free.
Editor’s note: State BCCTP programs may lose funding if proposed legislation is passed that cuts federal spending on Medicaid. They may also be cut if legislation isn’t passed that reauthorizes funding for the CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. If you’d like to weigh in on these funding decisions, contact your members of Congress.
Who’s eligible for Medicaid through the BCCTP?
Each state has its own requirements, but in general, to be eligible for Medicaid through the BCCTP, you must:
not currently have insurance
be under the age of 65 (the minimum age of eligibility varies by state)
have a low income (requirements vary by state, and are based on both income and family size)
be a resident of the state
be a U.S. citizen, resident, or a qualified non-citizen, such as a lawful permanent resident. (Some state programs require that you have a Social Security Number or proof of an application for one)
be in need of treatment for breast cancer or a precancerous condition of the breast (such as lobular carcinoma in situ or atypical ductal hyperplasia), or for cervical cancer or a precancerous condition of the cervix
Also, in many — but not all — states, you must have received your diagnosis at a local health center that receives funding from or is affiliated with the CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP).
What does coverage include?
People who are eligible for the BCCTP get full Medicaid coverage that includes treatment for breast cancer, cervical cancer, or precancerous conditions of the breast or cervix. It also typically includes care for other medical needs — such as primary care, dental care, vision services, prescription drugs, and more — although the exact services covered vary by state.
When does the Medicaid coverage start?
The coverage will generally start when your application is approved. In some states, it will retroactively cover the costs of healthcare you received for up to 90 days before you applied for BCCTP benefits.
How long does the coverage last?
In most cases, the Medicaid coverage lasts as long as you need active cancer treatment and meet the other criteria of your state’s BCCTP program, such as being under the age of 65. If your treatment takes longer than a year, you can renew it annually; your treating doctor will need to certify that you’re still in active treatment.
In some states, there’s a standard treatment period covered — such as four months of treatment for breast cancer — and you and your doctor would need to apply for an extension for your coverage to continue beyond that period.
You can get Medicaid coverage under the BCCTP more than once if you meet the eligibility criteria each time (for example, if you’re diagnosed with a second cancer).
How do I apply for Medicaid through the BCCTP?
You’ll need a doctor to fill out paperwork verifying your diagnosis as part of the application process. There are a few ways to find out if you’re eligible and apply for coverage.
If you received breast cancer screening and diagnosis services through a NBCCEDP-affiliated program in your area, that program can help you apply for Medicaid coverage through the BCCTP.
You can also directly contact your state’s BCCTP program or Medicaid agency. They can help you find out if you’re eligible for Medicaid through the BCCTP and tell you how to apply.
In some states, there are some healthcare providers/programs that aren’t NBCCEDP-affiliated that can help you apply. Your state’s Medicaid agency should be able to tell you the rules in your state.
