TRICARE Covers MRI
Screening for Breast Cancer
The best way to contain breast cancer is to detect it early. TRICARE now covers magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening for breast cancer as a clinical preventive service for women in high-risk groups.
Breast cancer is the third most common cancer among TRICARE beneficiaries and the second most common cause of cancer death for women in the United States.
“An MRI is a clearly superior tool for screening the highest risk women for breast cancer,” said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, Deputy Director, TRICARE Management Activity. “We want these women to have every chance to detect any cancer at the earliest possible stages.”
Breast MRIs are recommended as an annual screening procedure for women age 35 or older who are considered at high risk of developing breast cancer by American Cancer Society® guidelines, even if no symptoms are present. A woman is considered to be at high risk if she has a:
-
BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
-
First-degree relative (parent, child or sibling) with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
-
Lifetime risk of approximately 20 percent to 25 percent or greater as defined by accepted models that are largely dependent on family history (ask your doctor)
-
History of chest radiation between age 10 and age 30
-
History of Li-Fraumeni, Cowden or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, or a first-degree relative with one of these syndromes
“The availability of MRI screenings does not reduce the importance of regular examinations,” Maj. Gen. Granger stressed. “All women over 39 years old need to get annual mammograms. The key to dealing with cancer is early detection.”
TRICARE coverage of breast MRIs is retroactive to March 1, 2007. All TRICARE Standard beneficiaries age 35 and older who meet the criteria for a breast MRI are covered. If you are a qualified beneficiary and received a breast MRI on or after March 1, 2007, and your claim was denied, you may appeal the denial.
Back to Top
