# Plain Language Summary: Early Access to Screening Act

This bill makes mammogram screening more accessible and affordable by lowering the age at which women can get free annual mammograms. Starting January 1, 2025, women over age 29 would be able to get one mammogram per year at no cost through Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurance plans. Currently, most insurance programs don't cover routine mammograms until age 40, so this change would allow women in their 30s to access this screening earlier if they choose to do so.

The bill removes all out-of-pocket costs for these annual screenings. Under Medicare, women over 29 would pay nothing for their yearly mammogram. Medicaid programs in every state would be required to cover annual mammograms for eligible women over 29 with no copays or deductibles. Private insurance plans would also have to include annual mammography screening for women over 29 at no cost to the patient. The bill specifically prevents insurance companies from charging any fees, deductibles, or copayments for this service.

The practical effect is that women in their 30s who have concerns about breast cancer or want routine screening would no longer face financial barriers to getting mammograms. This could mean earlier detection of breast cancer in younger women, though it's worth noting that major medical organizations currently recommend routine screening starting at age 40 for average-risk women. The bill essentially gives women the option to start screening earlier if they and their doctors decide it's appropriate, without worrying about the cost.