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Insurance worries follow government mammogram recommendations

Page Last Updated: Friday November 20, 2009 6:56am PST

Victoria Campbell, News 4

Many people are worried that a new government recommendation that says women in their forties don't need annual mammograms might prompt insurance companies to refuse coverage for the cancer-detection tests.

"Mammograms save the lives of women between 40 and 49 and younger," said Rhonda Walker, 43, who was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. "What are they talking about?"

In Nevada, the Insurance Commission follows a state law that mandates annual mammograms for women in their forties. But the Commission oversees only about one-third of insurance companies currently offering coverage in the state. The other insurance policies offered by Medicaid, Medicare, large employers and union insurance plans are not overseen by the Insurance Commission.

But Insurance Commissioner Scott Kipper says he doesn't think insurance companies will follow the recommendations anytime soon.

"I think the tide of popular opinion will probably prevail where we have no oversight and where the Legislature has not mandated what coverage should be provided," he said. "[Those plans] are negotiated, and I would guess there are some negotiating points these companies would not budge on."

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