Krankenkassen: Brustkrebs-Früherkennung schon ab 45 Jahren

The German Joint Committee for Health Insurance (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss) has decided to allow younger women, aged 45 to 49, to participate in the breast cancer early detection program. This decision lowers the minimum age requirement for the mammography screening. To make the transition smoother, an intermediate period is planned.

Newly eligible women will likely be able to sign up for a medical examination starting August 1, 2027. They are expected to receive personal invitations from January 2028, according to the Joint Committee. Currently, women aged 50 to 75 can participate in the mammography screening program, which covers about 14.5 million women. Allowing women to join the program at a younger age could benefit an additional 2.5 million women.

Committee member Bernhard van Treeck emphasized that early detection works best when cancer symptoms are accurately identified and false alarms are kept to a minimum. "In this regard, we hope we have made a good decision," he stated. The decision will now be reviewed by the Federal Health Ministry. If the decision is not contested legally, it will take effect on August 1, 2027. From that date, women will be able to participate in the screening.