Kansas insurance commissioner blends personal experience, advocacy on breast cancer bill

A Kansas Senate committee gathers testimony on a bill blocking insurance companies from shifting costs to women who need special tests for breast cancer.

By: Tim Carpenter

Outlets: Kansas Reflector

Published: February 3, 2026

Words: 744

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 2 days ago

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TOPEKA — Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt supported a bill during her first term as a state senator that established a distinctive state license plate encouraging breast cancer awareness.

When that bill became law, Schmidt said, she put one of the plates on her car, in part, to honor the cancer struggle of then-Sen. Barbara Allen.

“Little did I know it would take on new meaning when my own breast cancer diagnosis appeared,” said Schmidt, …

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