This must be what my wife had. She was told it would cost an extra $50, or free + $50. I told her, no problem, just pay it if it’s not covered, but I do support your point on principle that if a screening procedure is supposed to be provided free of charge, than this should be included.
@VeryHappy You should probaby start a new thread, that’s a whole other can of worms.
Re: 3D mammos
I had noticed that my insurance would not cover these. I also decided I would rather not get the 3D even if it were covered. But then I kinda forgot about it.
Fast forward to my appt. There I am, stretched out, embracing the machine, the tech steps away to push the button…Wait! I say…is this the new 3D mammogram?
The answer was yes of course. No one had said anything, if there was anything different in the paperwork, nobody mentioned it, no signs or posters…
Getting the 2D mammo required the tech to redo some front desk paperwork although I don’t think I had to re-sign anything. If I had gotten the 3D my insurance would not have paid a penny.
@VeryHappy … The breast density issue is a whole other can of worms with various health governing bodies differing on what they recommend for dense breast tissue. Some say the ultrasound and breast MRI is not absolutely recommended and then others say it should be deeply considered in light of a persons familial history.
Hopefully a radiologist will chime in?
Here in Texas we have Henda’s Law (named after a woman who always had negative mammograms with dense breast tissue who eventually was diagnosed with breast cancer) which states insurance companies must cover the additional testing.
I have this issue. I spoke directly with the radiologist where I get my mammograms and he said I should set up a “staggered schedule” where I have my yearly mammogram and an ultrasound six months later. That way I have q 6 months breast screening. So far I haven’t had any problems with insurance covering anything except I do have to pay the extra for the digital mammogram.
I’m also in CT where they’re required to inform you if you have dense breasts. I do, and had an ultrasound done a couple of years ago. I haven’t had another one, but may do it this year. With no family history, no personal issues, I can’t see having the additional testing every year (I get an annual mammo).
CT resident here too. Also wit dense breasts (why can’t they be larger?). I was told the same thing…and asked if additional testing was recommended for ME. The radiologist told me not at this time.
So who doesn’t have dense breasts?
Me.
Mine are nicely not-dense, according to my friend the radiologist.
@VeryHappy My tissue is also dense, and I also have no personal or family history of breast cancer.
Last year I asked both my primary and my gyn about the new technology, and they both waved me off. The gyn said that while the new technology is better at detecting anomalies, there’s no evidence that it increases survival rates, which is kind of the point. So I just had the regular mammogram. YMMV.
@LasMa basically that is what my docs said too…in different words.
Well, I’m just going to put all those fancy tests out of my mind and continue on my merry way!
H is a radiologist.
Tomosynthesis, or 3D mammogram, is a little more radiation but it provides more views of the breast, like a CT scan does. It is really good at picking up “architectural distortion” which is an indicator of breast cancer.
Ultrasound is OK but depends greatly on the skill of the ultrasonographer. MRI is better, but will miss things. All methods can miss things and that is why they recommend a combination of screening methods if you are at higher risk.
Fibroglandular tissue, which is very dense when you’re nursing a baby, gets fattier as you age. In some women, for unknown reasons, it doesn’t get as fatty.
When you have fattier tissue, a regular mammogram is pretty conclusive at finding things. A few areas are still tricky, like against your chest wall, but for the most part a regular mammo is all you need.
I always thought I was a special person for having extremely dense breasts. I guess I’m not.
Lol me too, VeryHappy.