This article is about a new amendment to the healthcare bill.  The change says that health insurers will now cover mammograms for women ages 40-49.  Recently, the USPSTF (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) had recommended that women under 50 not go for routine mammograms.  Senate, however, chose to reject this recommendation.  The article states, “The bipartisan amendment…  would increase coverage and eliminate copays for more women’s preventive services than was contained in the underlying bill.”  The 2 senators whom passed this were Barbara Mikulski and Olympia Snowe. 

This article is so important to me.  My mom had breast cancer when I was 12.  So, I know that the alteration to the bill that women ages 40-49 must get mammograms and will be covered financially is a very positive alteration in the country.  Breast cancer affects millions of women and their loved ones each year.  Because healthcare providers will cover the cost, it makes it a lot easier for people to get checked, and also shows the importance in it, because they are willing to pay for them.  Especially for women 40-49, being diagnosed with breast cancer is even worse because they still have a lot of estrogen in their bodies, unlike a woman in her 50′s.  However, the age aspect is also kind of unfair to, say, a woman who has just turned 50 and needs to get a mammogram, or a woman who is 39.  Breast cancer affects women of all ages, not just a certain range.  so, that part is definetely stupid and unfair.  Still, it’s definetely a positive that yearly mammo’s are mandatory, because, in the end, it really makes a huge difference.

The symbol of breast cancer, which has helped raise awareness on the issue.