Preventive Care with Mammograms

Making time for your own health

Are you so busy taking care of everyone around you that you don’t have time for yourself? Making time for routine preventive care – like mammograms and breast cancer screenings – can help you stay healthy for the things you really love. “Preventive care helps diagnose cancer and other health issues early, when treatment is most successful,” says HealthPartners doctor Andrew Zinkel, MD. “It’s important for all women to have screenings every one to two years, starting at age 50.

Are you not worried because you don’t have a family history of breast cancer? Maybe you’re concerned about the cost?

“Surprisingly, three out of four women who develop breast cancer don’t have a family history of the disease,” says Dr. Zinkel. Also, you might not have to pay anything. Most health plans cover preventive care screenings 100 percent. If you have HealthPartners insurance, sign in to look at your specific plan benefits or to chat with Member Services.

Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to mean adding one more thing to your to-do list. You can ask for a same-day mammogram the next time you schedule a doctor’s appointment.

If you have been putting it off because you don’t have a primary care doctor, it’s now easier than ever to find one! To search for a doctor, sign in to your myHealthPartners account and use the Find care tool.

For more information about breast cancer prevention, visit the Health Information Library.