Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality

STATISTICAL BRIEF #170 

June 2007 

Use of Breast Cancer Detection Exams 

among Women Age 40 and Over, U.S. 

Noninstitutionalized Population, 2005 

Anita Soni, PhD 

Introduction 

Breast cancer is one of the top 10 causes of death for women in 

United States. Regular breast exams and mammograms are the best 

tools available to doctors to find breast cancer early. When breast 

cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is 96 percent. The 

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening

mammography, with or without clinical breast examination, every 

one to two years for women age 40 and over. 

This Statistical Brief provides estimates of the extent to which 

women age 40 and over reported receiving breast exams and 

mammograms for breast cancer detection in 2005. The estimates 

presented are derived from data collected in the Household 

Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC) 

questionnaire. All differences discussed in the text are statistically 

significant at 0.05 or better. 

Findings 

Breast exams and mammograms are the best methods available to 

women for detection of breast cancer. In 2005, more than three out

of four (75.9 percent) women age 40 and over reported having 

received a breast exam, and over two-thirds (70.6 percent) reported

having received a mammogram within the last two years (see 

Definitions) (figure 1). On the other hand, about one of every 10 

(10.2 percent) women age 40 and over reported they had never received a mammogram (estimate not 

shown in figures). Variations in rates of breast exam and mammograms by selected characteristics of 

women are described below. 

Highlights 

 In 2005, more than threefourths (75.9 percent) of 

women age 40 and over 

reported having received a

breast exam within the last 

two years. 

 Seven out of every 10 

women age 40 and over 

reported that they received

a mammogram within the 

last two years. About 10 

percent of women reported

that they had never received a mammogram. 

 Non-Hispanic white women

were more likely to have 

received a mammogram 

within the last two years 

than Hispanic or nonHispanic Asian women. 

 Married women were more

likely to have received 

mammograms within the 

last two years than women 

who were single (never

married) or no longer 

married (75.6 percent 

versus 62.8 percent and 

64.1 percent, respectively).

Age 

Women age 65 and above were less likely to have received a breast exam within the last two years than 

women age 40 to 49 and 50 to 64 (67.2 versus 79.9 percent and 79.3 percent, respectively) (figure 1). 

Women between the age of 50 and 64 were more likely to have received mammograms within the last 

two years (75.9 percent) than women between 40 and 49 (66.9 percent) and 65 and older (67.6 percent). 

Race/ethnicity

Non-Hispanic white women were more likely to have received breast exams within the last two years 

(77.2 percent) than non-Hispanic Asian (69.4 percent) or Hispanic (70.6 percent) women (figure 2).
A lower percentage of non-Hispanic Asian and Hispanic women reported having received mammograms 

within the last two years as compared with non-Hispanic white women (61.8 percent and 62.7 percent, 

respectively, versus 72.6 percent). 

Hispanic women were more likely to have never received a mammogram than non-Hispanic white women 

(15.4 percent versus 9.1 percent) (estimates not shown in figures). 

Educational level 

The likelihood of having a breast exam within the past two years increased with education, ranging from 

63.1 percent for women with less than a high school education to 82.9 percent for those with at least 

some college education (figure 3). 

 

Educational level was also found to be related to receiving mammograms within the last two years. A 

higher percentage of women with at least some college education received mammograms within the last 

two years as compared with those with less than a high school education (76.5 percent versus 58.2 

percent). 

Marital status 

Married women were more likely to have received a breast exam within the last two years than single 

(never married) or no-longer married women (81.3 percent versus 72.8 percent and 67.9 percent, 

respectively) (figure 4). 

Married women were also more likely to have received mammograms within the last two years than 

women who were never married or no longer married (75.6 percent versus 62.8 percent and 64.1 

percent, respectively). 

Insurance status 

Women age 40 to 64 covered by private insurance were more likely to have received a breast exam 

within the last two years (83.9 percent) than those who were covered by public insurance (72.7 percent), 

while those who were uninsured (58.7 percent) were substantially less likely to have had a breast exam 

than those with public or private insurance (figure 5). 

Among women age 65 and over, those with Medicare and supplemental private insurance coverage were 

more likely to have had a breast exam within the last two years (73.4 percent) than those with Medicare 

only (63.2 percent) or Medicare and some other public insurance (52.6 percent). 

 

More than three of every four women under age 65 covered by private insurance reported having 

received a mammogram within the last two years (76.8 percent) as compared with about two-thirds of 

women who were covered only by public insurance (65.4 percent) and less than half of those who were 

uninsured (47.3 percent). Among women age 65 and over, those with Medicare and supplemental private 

insurance coverage were more likely to have received a mammogram within the last two years (73.1 

percent) than those with Medicare only (64.5 percent) or Medicare and some other public insurance (53.5 

percent). 

Data Source 

The estimates in this brief were derived from the MEPS 2005 full-year population characteristics data file 

(HC-090). 

Definitions 

Questions related to receiving breast exams and mammograms were asked in the Preventive Care 

section of MEPS-HC. 

Clinical breast exam 

A clinical breast exam is an examination by a doctor or nurse, who uses his or her hands to feel for lumps 

or other changes. 
Mammogram 

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer 

early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular 

mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. 

Racial and ethnic classifications 

Classification by race and ethnicity is based on information reported for each family member. 

Respondents were asked if each family member was Hispanic or Latino. Respondents were also asked 

which race or races best describes each family member. Race categories include white, black/African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and other. 

Based on these questions, sample persons were classified into the following race categories: Hispanic 

single race, non-Hispanic white single race, non-Hispanic black single race, non-Hispanic Asian single 

race, and other (Hawaiian/Pacific Islander non-Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native non-Hispanic, 

and multiple races non-Hispanic). 

Marital status 

The category “No Longer Married” includes the women who are widowed, divorced or separated. 

Educational level 

Educational level indicates a person’s number of years of education at the time of the first MEPS 

interview: 

– Less than high school = Less than 12 years of education 

– High school graduate = Completed 12 years of education 

– At least some college = More than 12 years of education 

Within the last two years 

This refers to the two years before the MEPS interview in which this question was asked. 

Health insurance status 

Individuals under age 65 were classified in the following three insurance categories based on household 

responses to health insurance status questions: 

– Any private health insurance: Individuals who, at any time during the year, had insurance that provides 

coverage for hospital and physician care (other than Medicare, Medicaid, or other public 

hospital/physician coverage) were classified as having private insurance. Coverage by TRICARE 

(Armed Forces–related coverage) was also included as private health insurance. Insurance that 

provides coverage for a single service only, such as dental or vision coverage, was not included. 

– Public coverage only: Individuals were considered to have public coverage only if they met both of the 

following criteria: 1) they were not covered by private insurance at any time during the year, and 2) they 

were covered by one of the following public programs at any point during the year: Medicare, Medicaid, 

or other public hospital/physician coverage. 

– Uninsured: The uninsured were defined as people not covered by private hospital/physician insurance, 

Medicare, TRICARE, Medicaid, or other public hospital/physician programs at any time during the entire 

year or period of eligibility for the survey. 

Individuals 65 and older were classified in the following three insurance categories: 

– Medicare only: Individuals who, at any time during the year, were covered by Medicare only. 

– Medicare plus private: Individuals who at any time during the year, were covered by a combination of 

Medicare, TRICARE or private insurance. 

– Medicare plus other public coverage: Individuals who, at any time during the year, were covered by 

Medicare in addition to some other type of public insurance. 

About MEPS-HC 

MEPS-HC is a nationally representative longitudinal survey that collects detailed information on health 

care utilization and expenditures, health insurance, and health status, as well as a wide variety of social, 

demographic, and economic characteristics for the civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is cosponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Center for Health Statistics. 
For more information about MEPS, call the MEPS information coordinator at AHRQ (301-427-1656) or 

visit the MEPS Web site at http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/. 

References

For a detailed description of the MEPS survey design, sample design, and methods used to minimize 

sources of nonsampling error, see the following publications: 

Cohen, J. Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS

Methodology Report No. 1. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0026. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care Policy and 

Research, 1997. 

Cohen, S. Sample Design of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS

Methodology Report No. 2. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0027. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care Policy and 

Research, 1997. 

Cohen, S. Design Strategies and Innovations in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Medical Care,

July 2003: 41(7) Supplement: III-5–III-12. 

For information on breast cancer screening and mammograms, see the following: 

Breast cancer screening: Basic information: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/screening.htm 

Recommendations and rationale: Screening for Breast Cancer. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 

(USPSTF) https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/

RecommendationStatementFinal/breast-cancer-screening1 

Mammograms: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/mammograms.htm

NCI Fact sheet: Screening Mammograms—Questions and Answers: 

https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/mammograms-fact-sheet

Breast cancer: Early detection: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/

Suggested Citation 

Soni, A. Use of Breast Cancer Detection Exams among Women Age 40 and Over, U.S. Noninstitutionalized Population, 2005. Statistical Brief #170. June 2007. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 

Rockville, Md. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st170/stat170.pdf 

∗ ∗ ∗

AHRQ welcomes questions and comments from readers of this publication who are interested in

obtaining more information about access, cost, use, financing, and quality of health care in the United

States. We also invite you to tell us how you are using this Statistical Brief and other MEPS data and 

tools and to share suggestions on how MEPS products might be enhanced to further meet your needs.

Please e-mail us at MEPSProjectDirector@ahrq.hhs.gov or send a letter to the address below: 

Steven B. Cohen, PhD, Director 

Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends 

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 

540 Gaither Road 

Rockville, MD 20850 
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2005

66.9

75.9

67.6

75.9

79.9 79.3

70.6 67.2

0

20

40

60

80

100

All women age 40

and over

Age 40-49 Age 50-64 Age 65+

Breast exam Mammogram

Percent

Figure 1. Percentage of women age 40 and over with 

breast cancer screening in the past two years, by age, 2005

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2005

72.6 67.6

61.8

70.6 67.4

77.2 75.1 69.4 73.1

62.7

 0

 20

 40

 60

 80

 100

Hispanic Non-Hispanic

white

Non-Hispanic

black

Non-Hispanic

Asian

Other

Breast exam Mammogram

Percent

Figure 2. Percentage of women age 40 and over with breast

cancer screening in the past two years, by race/ethnicity, 2005

Statistical Brief #170: Use of Breast Cancer Detection Exams among Women Age 40 and Over, U.S. 

Noninstitutionalized Population, 2005
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2005

69.5

76.5

63.1

73.6

82.9

58.2

0

20

40

60

80

100

Less than high school Completed high school At least some college

Breast exam Mammogram

Percent

Figure 3. Percentage of women age 40 and over with breast

cancer screening in the past two years, by education, 2005

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2005

75.6

64.1

72.8

81.3

67.9

62.8

0

20

40

60

80

100

Single (never married) Married No longer married

Breast exam Mammogram

Percent

Figure 4. Percentage of women age 40 and over with breast 

cancer screening in the past two years, by marital status, 2005

Statistical Brief #170: Use of Breast Cancer Detection Exams among Women Age 40 and Over, U.S. 

Noninstitutionalized Population, 2005
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2005

Private Public only Uninsured

Percent

Figure 5. Percentage of women age 40 and over with 

breast cancer screening in the past two years,

by age and insurance status, 2005

Medicare only Medicare+Private Medicare+Public

Age 40-64

47.3

83.9

76.8

65.4

72.7

58.7

0

20

40

60

80

100

Breast exams Mammograms

Age 65+

53.5

63.2 64.5

73.1 73.4

52.6

0

20

40

60

80

100

Breast exams Mammograms

Statistical Brief #170: Use of Breast Cancer Detection Exams among Women Age 40 and Over, U.S. 

Noninstitutionalized Population, 2005