German health insurers reduce age for free mammograms

Public health insurers in Germany will soon lower the minimum age for free mammogram breast cancer screenings from 50 to 45.

GBA approves mammograms from 45

The Federal Joint Committee (GBA), the decision-making body of the German public healthcare system, has announced that public insurers will soon offer free mammograms for breast cancer screening to women from age 45.

Until now, women aged 50 to 75 with public health insurance were entitled to a free mammogram every two years. The new rules will align the German healthcare system with EU recommendations for breast cancer screening.

Women under 45 are currently entitled to an annual cancer screening at their gynaecologist. From the age of 20, this includes a Pap smear. From the age of 30, a manual breast cancer screening, where the gynaecologist uses their hand to feel for tumours, is also included.

If the gynaecologist finds lumps during the manual screening, the public health insurer must cover the cost of a mammogram. But if a patient would like a mammogram for peace of mind, they must pay out of pocket, with the examination costing around 90 euros.

1 in 6 women under 50 affected

According to the Centre for Cancer Registry, around 75.000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Germany every year. 

Breast cancer is diagnosed in young people more often than other forms of cancer, being the most common form among women under the age of 45. From the age of 50, one in six women are affected, and this figure jumps to two in five for women aged 70 and over.

Around 18.000 women in Germany die of breast cancer each year. The GBA hopes that offering free mammograms to more women will increase early diagnoses, which improves treatment options and should reduce the number of breast cancer deaths.