BATON ROUGE – It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is joining other healthcare organizations to raise awareness about the importance of screenings, self-exams and regular checkups with your healthcare provider.
Blue Cross graphic artists created a series of original designs for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which the insurer is sharing across its social media channels during October. Using flower imagery, the graphics remind women – and those who have women in their lives – that it’s important to begin mammogram screening at age 40 and do breast self-exams each month.
“Screening saves lives,” said Blue Cross Medical Director Dr. Emily Vincent. “If you have breast cancer, getting regular mammograms can help you catch it earlier, when treatment is more likely to be successful.”
Healthcare providers generally recommend women began having mammograms at age 40, but those with a family history of breast cancer or medical risk factors may need to begin screening earlier, according to Dr. Vincent.
“That’s why it’s very important to have at least one checkup a year with your OB-GYN or primary care provider,” Dr. Vincent said. “Your provider knows your health history and can talk with you about your family history and any risk factors you have to recommend when you need to start having mammograms and how frequently you will need them.”
Most health plans and Medicare plans cover breast cancer screening at low or $0 out-of-pocket costs.
Many health plans also have shopping tools that let you see what mammograms cost at different healthcare facilities near you. Blue Cross members can use Smart Shopper, at bcbsla.com/SmartShopper, to see what they can expect to pay for mammograms or other screenings at facilities in their networks.
Although breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, men can also develop breast cancer. In addition to mammograms, breast self-awareness and monthly self-exams can help all Louisianians.
“You know your body better than anyone else, so if you see or feel anything unusual, tell your healthcare provider about it,” Dr. Vincent said. “Don’t be embarrassed to have that conversation.”
Blue Cross members who have been diagnosed with breast cancer (or any form of cancer) can get support and health coaching from the insurer’s Care Management team. Members do not pay anything to work with a Blue Cross health coach. Visit www.bcbsla.com/Stronger for more information on how to connect with a health coach or sign up for programs and services.
Visit the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana YouTube channel to see short videos on various health topics. Subscribe to know when new videos are added. You can connect with Blue Cross on social media for regular updates. Blue Cross posts often on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is committed to our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians. Founded in New Orleans in 1934, we are a tax-paying nonprofit health insurer with offices in every major region to serve our customers. We have been recognized for the past three years as an honoree of The Civic 50, named by Points of Light as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We are a private mutual company, owned by our policyholders, with an independent Louisiana Board of Directors and no shareholders. We invite all Louisianians to visit our website at www.bcbsla.com or talk to us on social media.
We're sorry, something went wrong! Please refresh your browser and try again.