Like other types of cancer, early detection is one of the most important factors in successfully fighting breast cancer.
Now, mammographies are available through most private health plans without requiring a co-pay, co-insurance or other type of cost-sharing. This change, which effects insurance policies renewing on or after August 2012, was made under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which was signed into law in 2010.
This new insurance change is significant because studies show copays – even moderate copays – for mammograms and Pap smears are enough to deter women from obtaining these screenings, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In Wisconsin, it seems most health insurance plans already covered mammography and other preventive cancer screenings. Of the 12 health insurance providers represented by the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans, very few major benefit packages required co-payment on behalf of the patient, said Phil Dougherty, the organization's senior executive officer.
“Preventive services should be offered with zero cost-sharing so there is no barrier whatsoever to accessing these services,” Daugherty said.
However, some larger companies that offer their own insurance benefits were previously requiring their patients to pay for mammographies, according to Terrence Frett, the president of Frett Barrington Ltd., a health insurance consulting firm based in Pewaukee.
That’s significant because 60 percent of people who receive health insurance through their employer are through these larger, self-insured companies, according to a study conducted by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.
"The primary change is uniformity of coverage," Frett said. "It doesn’t matter if it’s a large employer providing their own benefits or a small company purchasing health care from United Healthcare, for example. Now, there is some consistency of the same preventive services to be covered, as outlined by the government."
It's still a little early to determine if free mammography coverage is changing the number of people that are going to their doctor for a breast cancer screening. Frett said he sees this aspect of the Affordable Care Act as a positive change, and he hopes it lowers any barriers that may be stopping people from seeking preventive cancer screenings.
“I wish people would take the initiative to seek out these preventive care services. That’s the challenge we continue to face," Frett said. "We can cover screenings all we want, but if people don’t take the initiative to go to the doctor’s office then it doesn’t help anything.”
Other preventive women's services covered by Obamacare include:
- Well-woman visits
- Screening for gestational diabetes, which help protect the mother and her child from one of the most serious pregnancy-related diseases
- Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling
- Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence
- Contraception and contraceptive counseling
- HPV DNA testing
- STI counseling
- HIV screening and counseling
*massive eye roll* People - either insurance companies pay for preventative care, which is far cheaper in the long run and makes good business sense - so why they just don't on their own is a mystery - or insurance pays BIG for diagnostic tests and treatment which is far more expensive and then passes all those elevated costs on to ... wait for it ... everyone else.
This so called BS is saving lives.
While you're around, how about disposing of zyl350 below....
@Heather- my insurance rate has gone way up and Obama said it would go down. Hmmm, I wonder why? I'd love some research on that story. I know the Patch will cover that, right?
All of it is beside the point, because until 2014, our family pays the full price out of pocket for mammograms, pap smears, and annual physician exams. All this fuss over a co-pay.
As far as confusing the Right with facts, maybe you can clarify one for me Keith... Have you paid Hoffa his 50 bucks yet? (that was just to P155 off Bren)
Have the costs associated with Mammographies for insurance providers gone down because of Obamacare? If not, then who's making up for the difference if it's not the patients via co-pays? Don't you think this info is vital to the validity of your article and headline?
What do you know of facts - you can't even make good on your outstanding liabilities!
Nothing is free and this 'article' leaves out a lot of very vital FACTS.
That's more like it, as long as the article explains who the cost was shifted to.
But the facts remain - patients who get care before something catastrophic happens cost EVERYONE less in the long run. No one is saying stuff should be free - you pay for the services through premiums, right? And when services aren't covered or folks don't have health insurance, who do you think ends up paying more in the long run? Yep, EVERYONE. So ...
If you follow facts... insurance companies are now required to spend 80 percent of premiums collected on patient care. There is where the money comes from. If they do not spend it on care, they must provide a refund. If you know other facts... finding an illness in later stages will cost much more to treat. Insurance companies are "for profit" and in that regard patients are merely numbers and potential losses. This law protects the consumer which normally everyone would get behind. http://www.csgmidwest.org/policyresearch/jan11medicallossratio.aspx