The US Senate approved an amendment, put forward by Senator Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, that would require insurance companies to offer free mammograms and other preventive services including annual diabetes screening.
The vote was 61 to 39, with three Republicans joining 56 Democrats and the two independents in favor. Reuters quotes Senator Mikulski as saying,
“This amendment makes sure that the insurance companies must cover the basic preventive care that women need at no cost.“
Furthermore, the New York Times reports Senator Mikulski said, “The insurance companies take being a woman as a pre-existing condition. We face so many issues and hurdles. We can’t get health care. We can’t get health insurance because of pre-existing conditions called a C-section.
My amendment offers key preventive services, including an annual women’s health screening that would go to a comprehensive assessment, including the dangers to women in heart disease and in diabetes.”
