How Much Does a Mammogram Cost?
Posted under: Mammogram Cost Summary
A. Price Range = $80-$220
B. Average Cost = $112
C. Cheapest Price = $20 co-payment, or free under the right circumstances.
Mammograms are a necessary medical routine. They are often covered by insurance, but insurance policy changes are making it so that women have to pay a co-payment to get the procedure done. Here is a cost analysis of this important procedure to help you decide what is a fair price to pay.
Mammograms are a common method for checking the breasts for abnormal tissues. They use an x-ray to photograph the tissue to reveal any abnormalities in an otherwise healthy woman. Women over the age of 40 are recommended to have a mammogram every one or two years which can greatly reduce the number of women who suffer from and die of breast cancer. Preventative care to catch breast cancer at the early stage is an important part of women’s healthcare.
Mammogram Cost Comparison
Diagnostic mammograms are more expensive than screening mammograms. With a screening, this is just to see if there is anything abnormal present and less work is required for these procedures. Diagnostic mammograms are implemented to look for more specific answers to abnormalities found in a screening.
You may prefer to stick with your normal women’s healthcare doctor, but it might be worth looking around at different clinics to see if there are better prices for you. Planned Parenthood clinics across the country offer plenty of diagnostic and screening tests to check for cancerous abnormalities.
Cost With Insurance
Women who are insured will likely have to pay little to nothing for their mammogram. A majority of all insurance companies will cover the total cost of the mammogram, however a co-payment of $20 may be required depending on the insurance company that is used.
Costs Without Insurance
Mammograms are such a routine and necessary procedure that there are plenty of options for the uninsured. The cost of a mammogram for the uninsured is between $80-$220. This is a hefty cost if you can’t afford it, but there are clinics with sliding-fee scales. There are also places that offer free screenings if you are uninsured and need a mammogram.
Tips For Getting An Affordable Mammogram
According to Blue Cross of North Carolina, the average cost of a mammogram is $112. Women who are in the appropriate age bracket will pay less or nothing at all for screening mammograms. Additionally, breast exams done by hand are cheaper, and they can still have similar results when screening for abnormal lumps or lesions.