Breast cancer screening plays a critical role in early detection when cancer has a better chance of being cured, yet growing evidence shows that diagnosis can be delayed during pregnancy and the postpartum period — times when breast changes are often considered normal. As a result, breast cancer is commonly found at a later stage in women who are pregnant or nursing.¹

Further, a breast cancer diagnosis within two years postpartum has a worse prognosis than a diagnosis later in the postpartum period. Breastfeeding may lead to delayed diagnosis due to women attributing their symptoms to lactational changes.²

With breast cancer projected to account for 32 percent of new cancer cases among women in the United States and screening rates lagging, early and equitable detection across all life stages remains essential.³

Screening recommendations

While industry recommendations vary regarding screening age and frequency, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend mammograms every two years for women who are 40 to 74 years old and at average risk for breast cancer.⁴

Providers play a vital role in encouraging adherence to breast cancer screening. This includes continued awareness during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Conversations about screening should begin by age 40, with recommendations tailored to each patient’s unique risk factors, including family history, lifestyle, breast density, reproductive history, and prior diagnoses.⁵ For patients at elevated risk, providers may recommend screening earlier or using advanced imaging methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).⁶

One study indicates that perfect adherence to screening guidelines could save up to 4.9 million life-years in the United States, underscoring the significance of proactive provider engagement.⁷

Coverage

This year, we began covering additional breast imaging, including MRIs and ultrasounds, as well as biopsies and pathology procedures, at no cost when needed to complete the screening process or address findings on the initial screening. Our Preventive Care Services (A004) administrative policy includes additional information, including the Current Procedural Terminology codes for screening.

This change helps support better coverage, adherence to treatment plans, and seamless care planning. Because your patients will have no out-of-pocket costs, they are more likely to follow through with the advanced screenings you recommend as part of their treatment plan.

Breast cancer screening before age 40 may also be covered as preventive care for patients with a family history, as outlined in our Radiology/Breast Imaging Guidelines. Coverage for other breast imaging services will depend on the patient’s Cigna Healthcare^® benefit plan.

To find a list of in-network providers, go to the provider directory on Cigna.com. Your patients can find in-network providers by logging in to myCigna.com or the myCigna^® App.

HEDIS measures

The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®)⁸ is a widely used benchmark of health care performance in the United States, measuring how effectively health care organizations provide essential health services.

For information on the HEDIS measures related to breast cancer screening, visit the National Committee for Quality Assurance HEDIS Measures and Technical Resources web page.

Resources

We encourage you to share the following resources with your patients:

• Know Your Lemons^® app: Your patients can access, at no charge, the Know Your Lemons app, which offers easy-to-understand tools to help both women and men learn how to detect breast cancer early, understand symptoms, and access support after a diagnosis. The app is available through our partnership with the Know Your Lemons Foundation, a global leader in visual health education. Your patients can download the app and explore the “Know Your Lemons at Work” program by visiting the Know Your Lemons for Early Detection website.
• Breast cancer education: Our Breast Cancer web page provides support for patients duringtheir breast cancer journey.
• Preventive and diagnostic care information: The Cigna Healthcare Newsroom outlines the differences between preventive and diagnostic care, helping patients better prepare for and understand potential costs.

1. National Cancer Institute (NCI). “Breast Cancer During Pregnancy.” NCI. 02 December 2025. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/breast-cancer-during-pregnancy.
2. Daniella Klebaner, et al. “Impact of timing of diagnosis and breastfeeding on postpartum breast cancer outcomes.” Journal of Clinical Oncology. 28 May 2025. Retrieved from https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.e12537.
3. American Cancer Society (ACS). “Cancer Facts & Figures 2026.” ACS. 2026. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2026/2026-cancer-facts-and-figures.pdf.
4. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Screening for Breast Cancer.” CDC. 16 September 2024. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/screening/index.html.
5. CDC. “Breast Cancer Risk Factors.” CDC. 15 April 2026. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/risk-factors/index.html.
6. NCI. “Breast Cancer Screening (PDQ^®)–Health Professional Version.” NCI. 10 April 2025. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/hp/breast-screening-pdq#_143_toc.
7. Tomas Philipson, et al. “The aggregate value of cancer screenings in the United States: full potential value and value considering adherence.” BMC Health Services Research. 07 August 2023. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-023-09738-4.
8. HEDIS^® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).