Mammograms
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Ok I am 36 years old and curious about mammograms. I hear so many horror stories about young women with breast cancer and it blows my mind insurance won’t cover it until 40. Any advice on if you’ve gotten one covered and are under 40 with no symptoms? Or just advice on this subject in general?
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I’m 34 and my (shitty) insurance covered it with no prior family history. Not sure how my OB coded it but I had no issues. I had ultrasound done too. I had dense breast tissue. My OB wasn’t overly concerned but sent me due to the significant increase in young(er) women being diagnosed.
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My advice is to schedule it no matter the cost. I just turned 41, but have had several mammograms over the past 5-6 years due to a family history. I’m fairly certain if your Dr thinks you need one before 40 it can be covered regardless of family history. I was a teacher with mediocre insurance and had one at 30 and it was covered.
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If you are concerned, you might have to embellish your story to include breast pain when you talk to your health care provider. This will allow them to prescribe a diagnostic mammogram and or an ultrasound. Unfortunately, regular mammograms for younger women are not as accurate because of the breast density. Ultrasounds are actually more accurate. At any rate you need to be doing self breast exams regularly.
