A New Law Could Help People Who’ve Had a Mastectomy Afford Baby Formula

New legislation introduced in Congress in May 2026 could provide relief to parents who struggle with the cost of formula and don’t have the option of breastfeeding. If passed, “Connie’s Bill,” would fund a three-year federal pilot program to provide financial assistance for formula or donor milk for people who can’t breastfeed due to a medical condition. 

Many people who’ve been affected by breast cancer and other medical conditions are unable to breastfeed. A year’s worth of formula can cost them $1,500 to $3,000 or more. And insurance doesn’t cover formula or donor milk, even if you can’t breastfeed because you’ve had a mastectomy. 

Connie’s Bill was created and co-written by advocates from the nonprofit The Breasties and their partners Bobbie for Change (the advocacy arm of a formula company). It has bipartisan support and was co-sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), who is a breast cancer survivor, and Rep. Ashley Hinson (R). 

“Hopefully Connie’s Bill will close a really important policy gap,” said Katie Fabiani, an advocate with The Breasties, in an Instagram post. “Insurance companies are covering free breast pumps for new mothers, but there’s not equivalent coverage for women who have been through any sort of cancer journey and are not able to breastfeed their children.” Fabiani has stage IV breast cancer and is a mother of two, including a 6-month-old whom she can’t breastfeed. 

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act required that most health insurance plans fully cover the cost of a breast pump and breastfeeding counseling for all new parents. Insurance may also cover specialty formulas when a baby has certain medical conditions. But there aren’t any federal laws requiring insurers to cover formula or donor milk when a parent can’t breastfeed for medical reasons. 

While Connie’s Bill wouldn’t mandate insurance coverage, advocates say that the pilot program it would create is a step in the right direction. 

The pilot would test ways of providing financial assistance for formula or donor milk to eligible people, such as through a voucher or reimbursement program, or by giving grants to organizations that would provide the financial assistance on the local level.    

Connie’s Bill is named for Constance McDaniel, an Army veteran and mother of two who got involved with The Breasties after being diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant and learning her insurance wouldn’t cover the cost of formula. She died in 2025 and her husband Matt is continuing her advocacy work.

If you’d like to help support Connie’s Bill, The Breasties have a sample letter that you can email to your representatives in Congress. To move forward, the legislation needs more lawmakers to co-sponsor it. And if you’re a parent who has been affected by breast or gynecological cancer, you can apply to get discounted or free formula through Bobbie for Change.