A new study reports that even women with insurance are putting off getting mammograms, says CBS News. The study looked at health insurance claims from women and found that nearly 50% of those 40 and older had not had a yearly mammogram — and nearly 40% of those over 50 didn’t even have one every two years.

CBS says:

And that was before a controversial government report last year suggesting women wait until age 50 before starting to get routine mammography and then only every other year.

“There’s definitely been a significant drop off,” said Dr. Jorge Pardes, director of the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center.

Since the new guidelines, breast cancer experts like Dr. Pardes are seeing fewer patients for mammography.

“Those women that were on the fence, they just drop out and say, ‘I don’t really need this,'” said Dr. Pardes.

The American Cancer Society is still recommending that women over 40 get annual mammograms.

Study Finds Women Put Off Mammograms [CBS]

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