BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate recently approved legislation that would require health insurance plans to cover cancer screenings for eligible full-time firefighters every three years without copays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs.
The bill, S.3284, was approved by the Senate on a voice vote on Thursday, Oct. 15. It aims to help firefighters detect cancer earlier after repeated exposure to potentially cancer-causing substances, including smoke, diesel fumes, asbestos and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS.
Westford’s state senator John Cronin was among those who supported the bill.
“Providing firefighters with access to cancer screenings without financial barriers helps protect those who protect our Commonwealth,” Cronin said in a statement to WestfordCAT.
Occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has also classified occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic to humans.
Senate President Karen Spilka said regular, no-cost screenings could help detect illnesses earlier, improve treatment outcomes and save lives.
“Every day, firefighters put their health and safety on the line to protect our communities. We owe them more than our gratitude. We owe them the concrete support and care they deserve,” Spilka said in a statement.
The legislation would apply to eligible full-time, paid firefighters employed by the state, municipalities, fire and water districts, as well as fire departments on certain military bases.
Screenings would be provided through health insurance offered by firefighters’ public employers and would cover a range of cancers, including colon, lung, bladder, oral, thyroid, skin, blood, breast, cervical, testicular and prostate cancers.
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the legislation to the full Senate with a 17-0 vote Oct. 15. The Senate then approved the bill and sent it back to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
A similar version of the bill, H.563, was passed by the House of Representatives on July 31.
The bill followed a public hearing in September 2025 and unanimous votes by the Joint Committee on Financial Services in December 2025 and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing in April 2026.
It also builds on funding approved earlier this year. The Senate included $250,000 in its fiscal 2027 budget to support a municipal grant program for firefighter cancer screenings, including advanced blood testing and imaging.
The bill is intended to expand access to preventive care for firefighters whose work can expose them to hazardous substances over the course of their careers.
