Health insurance companies: early detection of breast cancer from the age of 45

Berlin. In the future, younger women aged 45 to 49 will also be able to take part in mammography screening. The Federal Joint Committee, the highest decision-making body for the individual benefits of statutory health insurance (GKV), lowered the lower age limit for participation in the breast cancer screening program. There should be a transition period to make adjustments easier. Newly eligible women are expected to be able to register for an examination appointment themselves from August 1, 2027. According to the Federal Committee, you will probably receive personal invitations from January 2028.

Currently, all women between the ages of 50 and 75 can take part in the mammography screening program, which is around 14.5 million women, according to the committee. By opening it up to younger women aged 45 and over, 2.5 million more women should be able to benefit from the health insurance benefit.

“Early detection only works well if signs of illness are reliably recognized and ‘false alarms’ occur as rarely as possible,” said committee member Bernhard van Treeck. “With this in mind, we hope we have made a good decision.” The decision is now being examined by the Federal Ministry of Health. If there are no legal objections to the resolutions, they will come into force on August 1, 2027. From this date onwards, women can take part in the screening.