Comparing Breast Cancer Screening Rates Among Different Groups

Mammography screening is important for all women, regardless of their race/ethnicity or their risk of breast cancer. Some women are less likely than others to get mammography screening.There are many reasons for disparities in breast cancer screening in the U.S. Some are described here.

Health insurance

A main reason behind differences in mammography screening rates in the U.S. is health insurance.

Women who don’t have health insurance are much less likely to get mammograms than women with health insurance.

In 2013, among women ages 40 and older:

• 38 percent of those with no health insurance had a mammogram in the past 2 years
• 70 percent of those with health insurance had a mammogram in the past 2 years

Although a lack of health insurance is a main reason for breast cancer screening disparities in the U.S., other factors play a role. Even among the women above with insurance, only 70 percent had a recent mammogram.

The Affordable Care Act requires all new health insurance plans (since September 2010) to cover yearly mammography (with no co-payment) for women ages 40 and older.

Learn more about Medicare, Medicaid and insurance company coverage of mammograms and find resources for low-cost or free mammograms.

Other barriers to breast cancer screening

Other barriers to mammography screening may include:

• Low income (or worry about cost)
• Lack of access to care (such as lack of a local (or easy to get to) mammography center or lack of transportation to a mammography center)
• Lack of a usual health care provider
• Lack of a recommendation from a provider to get mammography screening
• Lack of awareness of breast cancer risks and screening methods
• Lack of child care
• Lack of sick leave or unable to miss work
• Fear of bad news or pain from the procedure
• Cultural and language differences

These may explain some of the disparities in mammography screening rates among certain populations of women, such as women from different racial and ethnic groups.

More information about ethnic groups and breast cancer screening can be found at:

http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/DisparitiesInBre...

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