A physician's referral is needed for a bone density screening, and in some cases it may be five to 10 years between screenings in healthy individuals. Some doctors may want more frequent screenings to monitor the progress of any problems found. Most insurance companies did not cover such screenings in the past, although many have begun reimbursing at least partially for them if given because of a physician's referral. In addition, government-funded elder care programs have started at least partial reimbursement on individual cases, especially if a strong family history of bone loss is present. It's well worth the time it takes to do it, and it can end up preventing a lot of problems later on.
Preventative medicine is, of course, always the way to go.
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