California Reassures Women that Mammogram Laws Not Changed

November 20, 2009

Separate emails using a comma.

In the wake of new recommendations for mammography, California officials said that a state law remains in place to ensure that insurance covers mammograms for breast cancer screenings beginning at age 35.

“Scientists can and should continue to research the best ways to treat our medical ailments,” Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said in a released statement. “However, regardless of what recent medical panels have said, state law continues to require insurance companies to cover mammograms for women as early as age 35.”

State insurance code currently dictates that women age 35 to 39 are entitled to a baseline mammogram. Women age 40 to 49 can get a mammogram every two years, or more frequently if their physician recommends it, and women 50 and older are to be provided a mammogram every year.

On Nov. 16, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force reversed existing breast cancer screening recommendations and touched off a furious debate among insurance providers, doctors and patients. The Task Force said women should only get mammograms once every two years starting at age 50 instead of every one or two years at age 40, as had been the norm for decades.

Separate emails using a comma.
Subscribe Like this article?
Subscribe to our free email newsletter.

Latest Comments

  • November 20, 2009 at 3:16 am
    Frank says:
    This is just the quiet before the storm or battle if you will, on this ludicrous health bill being run through the house and senate. It was almost a trial balloon and got hamm... read more
  • November 20, 2009 at 1:38 am
    Maxine says:
    Hurray for California standing fast on the age guideline. I've always thought medical s/be "preventive" take care today and not pay out so doggone much tomorrow, obviously our... read more
  • November 20, 2009 at 1:15 am
    GMAB says:
    Hummmmm think this has anything to do with the "health care reform" waiting in the wings... Just think of the hundreds of millions of dollars they can deny for preventative ca... read more
See all comments

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

More News
More News Features