S. 3872 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 12, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryMedicare covers wigs as medical equipment
This bill adds medically necessary cranial prostheses—basically wigs prescribed for medical reasons—to the list of durable medical equipment that Medicare will cover. Right now, Medicare doesn't pay for these items even when a doctor says a patient needs them.
How it affects you
If you're on Medicare and a doctor determines you medically need a cranial prosthesis (such as after hair loss from cancer treatment or a medical condition), you could have it covered by Medicare instead of paying out of pocket. This would make these devices more affordable for older adults and some younger people with disabilities who rely on Medicare.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 12, 2026)
This bill includes medically necessary cranial prostheses (e.g., wigs) as covered durable medical equipment under the Medicare program.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionS. 3872
A BILL
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.
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) · Introduced Feb 12, 2026 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 12, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.”