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Only Half of Americans Know USPSTF’s Age-40 Mammogram Recommendation

Coverage for biennial mammograms at no cost under the ACA has not translated into widespread awareness of the age-40 recommendation.

Stock image of a woman undergoing a mammogram.
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Overview

  • The USPSTF recommends that average-risk women begin biennial mammograms at age 40 and continue until age 74.
  • Under the Affordable Care Act, insurers must cover these screenings without any cost-sharing.
  • An April 2025 Annenberg Public Policy Center survey finds that only 49 percent of adults know the recommended starting age.
  • Knowledge varies sharply by age, with 72 percent of women aged 40–49 informed compared with 37 percent of those aged 18–29.
  • Experts attribute ongoing uncertainty to frequent guideline revisions and conflicting advice from major health bodies.