Social Security Bills We’re Tracking in 2026

Congress is currently weighing critical carve-outs to the five-month SSDI and 24-month Medicare waiting periods for two progressive conditions.

The Young-onset Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 6799): Introduced by Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) on December 17, 2025, this bill seeks to expand statutory exemptions to the five-month waiting period. This amendment to the Social Security Act would grant young-onset Alzheimer’s the same immediate eligibility status currently afforded to claimants with ALS. Further, it would waive the 24-month Medicare waiting period. The bill currently has three bipartisan cosponsors and remains under review by the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Text: H.R. 6799 – 119th Congress

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (S. 3442): Similarly, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-CT) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) on December 11, 2025. This bipartisan legislation aims to eliminate both the five-month waiting period for SSDI and the 24-month waiting period for Medicare for affected claimants. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance for further action.

Text: S. 3442 – 119th Congress

---