Breast Cancer
Screening Guidelines
What are breast cancer screening tests?
According to the American Cancer Society, screening refers to tests and exams used to find a disease in people who don’t have any symptoms. The goal of mammography screening tests for breast cancer is to find it early, before it causes symptoms (like a lump in the breast that can be felt). Early detection means finding and diagnosing a disease earlier than if you’d waited for symptoms to start.
Breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be smaller and less likely to have spread outside the breast. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are some of the most important factors in predicting the prognosis (outlook) of a woman with this disease. It’s crucial for all women, especially minority women, to prioritize yearly breast cancer screenings based on recommended guidelines. Early detection is key to successful treatment outcomes, and studies have shown that some minority groups experience disparities in breast cancer outcomes.
Screening Guidelines for Uninsured Women
- Be a Florida resident* (*For our MASS Program Mammography Screening Events);
- Be 50-64 years of age; OR
- Be 40-49 years of age with a family history of breast cancer (i.e. a first-degree relative such as a parent, sister, brother, or child); OR
- Symptomatic women who are underage may be eligible if no other resources are available in their area;
- Have no health insurance to cover the cost of clinical breast exams, mammograms, or pap smears;
- Have a household income less than or equal to 200 percent of the poverty level;
- Women of any age who have completed treatment for breast cancer may be eligible.
Screening Guidelines for Insured Women
Insured women who have not had their mammograms within a year can be seen on the mobile mammography unit with the following insurance:
- Aetna (both Medicare and Commercial)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (both Medicare and Commercial)
- Champ VA
- Cigna (both Medicare and Commercial)
- Freedom/Optimum
- Humana (*Commercial only-Medicare/Medicaid Humana coverage is pending)
- **Humana Gold policies require a PCP referral for screening mammogram prior to having the exam done
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Meritain
- Simply (OON Provider)
- Tricare/VA
- United Healthcare (both Medicare and Commercial)
- WellMed (OON Provider)
PLEASE NOTE: If any woman schedules an appointment on the mobile unit and it has not been a complete year (12 months) since their last mammogram, YOU WILL BE CHARGED A FEE BY THEIR INSURANCE CARRIER.