Will Insurance Companies Stop Covering Mammograms?

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) - Many women are worried the new breast screening guidelines will cause insurance companies to back off on mammogram coverage.  The guidelines advise women in their 40s who have no risk factors for breast cancer to stop having routine mammograms.

But Helen Darling, the president of the National Business Group on Health does not expect insurance plans to make any big changes anytime soon, but she does expect them to begin an education campaign.

"There are relatively rare benefits and there are relatively common risks for routine screening for women who don't have risk factors," says Helen Darling.

But Jennifer Harlow she did not know she had a family history of breast cancer when she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer at age 35. Under the new guidelines, her cancer might have been missed.

"It's something we need to make noise about now to make sure that this is covered by insurance so that women are protected, and not only women over 50," says Harlow.