How to Get a Mammogram Without Breaking the Bank
Your doctor tells you, your sister nudges you, and public service announcements remind you: When you’re 40+ or are at serious risk for developing breast cancer, it’s important to get regular mammograms. And all the top experts add that a lack of funds shouldn’t get in the way of keeping your breast health on track.
If you have insurance, your health plan is required by law (via the Affordable Care Act) to cover the costs of a screening mammogram every year or two for women over 40. But what if you’re younger, uninsured, or under-insured? There are ways to make sure you can still get screened.
Here are four resources to check out that could help with a lost-cost mammogram:
The CDC's Program
The CDC has a program called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, designed to make sure that women who are uninsured, under-insured, and low-income get access to screening for these two diseases, as well as diagnostic and treatment help. Almost 66,000 invasive breast cancers have been diagnosed via this program since it started in 1991. The program’s interactive map lets you click on your state to get local information.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation's Resource
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation also has an interactive map that can help you find local resources, such as low-cost community-based screening programs. Not every state has Komen Affiliates, but the majority of them do.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation's Guide
The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., works with medical facilities across the U.S. to make sure that underserved women have access to free mammograms and diagnostic breast care services. There are one or two facilities in each state; check out their state-by-state guide to see if there’s a center near you.
The American Breast Cancer Foundation's Program
Through its Breast Cancer Assistance Program, the American Breast Cancer Foundation gives financial assistance to uninsured/underserved people of any age or gender for breast cancer screenings and diagnostic tests. There’s an application process and the program is provided on a first-come-first-served basis, but it’s worth contacting the foundation to see if you qualify.
Other resources
Planned Parenthood offers breast exams and will refer patients to a facility for affordable mammograms if something suspicious is found. You can also check out your state government website to see if there are state-specific programs to help ease the burden of screening costs, like this one in New York. And the American Cancer Society has a helpful resource guide on its website.
FYI: Low cost does not mean low quality.
There's no need to be concerned that you'd be getting some sort of substandard mammogram because it's free or at a reduced cost. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regularly inspects facilities that perform mammograms to make sure they're up to their standards, and they keep a frequently-updated list of those that pass the test. You can search by zip code for a certified facility.
An important thing to keep in mind: Mammograms are a screening test for people who don’t have symptoms of breast cancer. If you find a lump or have any other symptoms, see a doctor before trying to locate a free screening.
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