Are mammograms covered under the Affordable Care Act? Screening for breast cancer is an integral component of maintaining women’s health and halting its progression.
The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammogram screenings beginning at age 45 for women at average risk for the disease. Medicare and Medicaid cover this expense.
Medicare
Medicare is a government-run health care program that covers seniors and people with qualifying medical conditions. Medicare currently covers around 64 million Americans and accounts for 4.36% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Medicare doesn’t cover everything; rather it has four parts — A-D — which focus on specific areas of healthcare.
Part A covers hospital and skilled nursing care as well as hospice, home health services, and long-term care services if you cannot live independently.
Medicare is funded primarily from general revenues, payroll tax revenue and premiums paid by beneficiaries. Medicare covers hospital stays, doctor visits and prescription drugs.
Many individuals who hold both Medicare and private health insurance plans may be able to “coordinate” their benefits, potentially helping to both reduce costs and enhance coverage.
The Affordable Care Act has helped reduce Medicare premiums for most people and requires insurers to spend a larger percentage of premium dollars on care rather than administrative costs.
Although Medicare provides coverage for many preventive services, you still may incur some deductibles and copays; additionally, some screenings and preventive care services are free.
Medicare’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers Medicare members a no-cost mammogram benefit as part of its efforts to help keep cancer under control and avoid an outbreak. Regular mammograms provide an important way of keeping breast cancer at bay and averting more expensive issues down the line.
Medicaid, a joint federal-state health program covering some medical expenses, has been found to significantly lower teen pregnancy rates, decrease infant mortality rates, improve women and children health, as well as provide assistance for dental care, prescription drugs, family planning services and long-term care in homes of low income individuals.
Medicaid also offers another major advantage, in that it covers procedures and tests not covered by Medicare such as X-rays and screenings that may not be accessible through other insurance policies.
Medicaid
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) seeks to expand Medicaid and utilize innovation as a way of lowering medical costs. Covered services include hospitalization, physician services, emergency care, diagnostic testing, prescription drugs and preventive screenings.
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program designed to provide health coverage to low-income people and families living below the federal poverty level. Eligibility criteria vary based on one’s income in relation to this threshold.
Current estimates place over 73 million Americans under Medicaid coverage, making it the nation’s most widespread healthcare program. While some may doubt its value, evidence shows it helps reduce health disparities while providing access to care for low-income people and families.
Since 2014, states were given an opportunity under the Affordable Care Act to broaden Medicaid eligibility to adults whose income fell within 138% of federal poverty threshold, leading to over 11 million individuals being insured who otherwise wouldn’t have.
This program covers medical equipment, long-term nursing care, transportation to and from doctor visits and help with vision and dental costs for children. States also have the option to offer additional services like hearing aids, physical therapy and mental health support services.
Medicaid plays an essential role in keeping millions of men and women financially and physically healthy, which has been shown to support employment, enhance job satisfaction and overall well-being.
Medicare provides basic health coverage to people 65 or older as well as certain younger individuals with serious health conditions or disabilities, funded through tax dollars and managed by the federal government.
Medicare is an integral component of health care coverage in the US, covering nearly one fifth of personal spending on health. By 2010, it had covered half of nursing home beds and provided primary funding source for home-based healthcare services.
