Virginia law eliminates out of pocket costs for certain breast cancer examinations

(WSET) — Some cancer screenings may be more affordable after a bill passed through the General Assembly.

The Susan G. Komen organization is praising lawmakers and Governor Glenn Youngkin for getting the bill through.

The bill eliminates certain out-of-pocket costs for follow-up breast examinations.

When women receive a mammogram, the doctor may request additional testing for abnormal or high-risk cases.

That testing could be an ultrasound or an MRI.

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Rebecca Birch, Director of State Policy and Advocacy for Susan G. Komen Center for Public Policy, said that often these tests can be thousands of dollars out of pocket, whether you haven't met your deductible or don't have insurance at all.

"This bill removes those hundreds to thousands of dollars out of pocket so that an individual can finish their early detection process, hopefully getting to an all clear, but if in fact they do have cancer, hopefully getting that cancer detected as early as possible," Birch said.

Birch said they have heard from women who had to wait for additional scans due to the high financial cost.

She said that led to the cancer not being treated early enough.

"When you have to make the decision between do I need to do this, is it absolutely necessary for my life right now, and do I put food on the table? I think all of us are going to choose food on the table. This legislation takes that burden off of them; they can now do what's best for their health and put food on the table," Birch said.

Birch said it's important to note this is only for health care plans regulated by the state, not federal plans.

Birch said generally women 40 and up are recommended to get a mammogram annually, but you should talk to your doctor.

The bill goes into effect in July.