Conroy Measure Expanding Mammogram Coverage Signed into Law

VILLA PARK, Ill. – Insurance companies will be required to cover mammograms for patients who have discovered breast tissue abnormalities under a measure backed by state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, which was recently signed into law.

“A woman who has discovered that she could have breast cancer should be able to see her doctor and get a proper diagnosis without worrying about whether their insurance will cover the screening,” said Conroy. “It’s long past time to close the loophole that has allowed insurance companies to skirt their legal obligations.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans are mandated to cover preventative services for women without a copay. While regularly scheduled mammograms are currently covered, some insurance companies have refused to share the cost for necessary follow-up screenings after abnormalities are discovered. Under this new law, diagnostic mammograms occurring in between the first screening and an official diagnosis will be considered preventative care and therefore require coverage by insurance companies.

“When a woman and her doctor discover that something is not right, waiting just a couple of months for a mammogram can be the difference between life and death,” said Conroy. “The unanimous decision in both the House and Senate to hold insurance companies accountable for covering the cost of diagnostic mammograms is a critical step forward for women across Illinois.”