More Women Passing On Mammograms

A study conducted by Brown University and Harvard Medical School found when a co payment is required for a mammogram, many women between ages 65 and 69 years old with Medicare coverage do not get the screening for breast cancer. The study's results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Women with full coverage had an 8 percent higher rate of screening than those with required co payments for mammograms. Medical News Today reported this. the lead author of the study, Amal Trivedi, M.D. says, "The message is simple and it's startling - a small co payment for a mammogram can lead to a sharp decrease in breast cancer screening rates."

The study suggested even a $12 charge is a large enough barrier for women to skip mammograms. "Eliminating co payments for mammograms in the Medicare program has the potential to save lives, because screening detects breast cancers at an earlier, more curable stage," said Harvard professor and study co-author, John Ayanian, M.D.

Scheduling regular mammograms is important, says the National Institute of Cancer. Women ages 40 and over need a mammogram every 1 to 2 years. Women under 40 need to perform breast self exams to check for lumps.

40,000 women lose their lives to breast cancer each year, says the Mayo Clinic. With screening and the correct preventative care, it can be caught earlier. Paying a few more dollars on a mammogram is worth it.