Scheduling a mammogram is straightforward: you can often call a local imaging center or hospital directly, book online through their website, or have your doctor’s office set it up for you. Many facilities accept self-referrals for routine screening mammograms, meaning you don’t need a doctor’s order to make the appointment. The whole process, from picking up the phone to walking out of the facility, can happen within a few weeks.
Do You Need a Doctor’s Order?
For a routine screening mammogram, many imaging centers and hospitals let you schedule without a physician’s referral. You simply call the facility or use their online booking tool. This is sometimes called “self-referral,” and it’s widely available at breast centers, radiology clinics, and hospital outpatient departments across the country.
That said, some facilities and some insurance plans still require a written order from a doctor. If you’re unsure, call the facility you want to visit and ask two questions: “Do I need a referral?” and “Do you accept my insurance?” That one phone call will save you from surprises. If you do need an order, your primary care provider can typically place one during an annual wellness visit or even over a patient portal message without requiring a separate appointment.
Diagnostic mammograms, which are ordered when something specific needs a closer look, always require a doctor’s order. More on the difference below.
Screening vs. Diagnostic Mammograms
A screening mammogram is the routine exam for people with no symptoms. It’s designed to catch changes in breast tissue early, before anything is felt or seen. A diagnostic mammogram uses the same machine but takes more detailed images and is ordered when a screening result looks unusual or when you have symptoms like a new lump, skin dimpling, nipple discharge, or breast pain.
If you have breast implants, your provider may order a diagnostic mammogram because implants can obscure tissue on a standard screening exam. You might also be called back for a diagnostic mammogram if your screening images were blurry or incomplete. The key scheduling difference: screening mammograms are often self-scheduled, while diagnostic mammograms require a physician’s order and may involve a longer appointment.
When to Start and How Often
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening mammograms every two years starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74. If you have risk factors like a strong family history of breast cancer, your doctor may suggest starting earlier or screening annually. For most people at average risk, every other year beginning at 40 is the current guideline.
Finding an Accredited Facility
Every mammography facility in the U.S. must be certified under the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA). You can verify a facility’s certification on the FDA’s online mammography facility database at fda.gov. The database is updated regularly based on information from accreditation bodies, but certification status can change, so it’s worth checking before you book. When you arrive, look for the MQSA certificate posted in the facility.
Beyond certification, practical factors matter too. Consider whether the facility offers 3D mammography (also called tomosynthesis), which many centers now use as standard. Check the location, parking situation, and whether they offer evening or weekend appointments if your work schedule is tight.
Transferring Previous Imaging Records
If you’re going to a new facility, request that your previous mammogram images be sent ahead of your appointment. Radiologists compare new images to older ones to spot changes over time, so having your history available improves the accuracy of your reading. Call your former facility and ask them to transfer the records. They may ask you to sign a release form, and if they charge a fee, federal regulations require it be limited to the actual cost of providing the transfer.
Most mammograms today are digital, so identical copies can be sent electronically while the originals stay at the performing facility. Allow a couple of weeks for this process, especially if your old facility uses a different electronic system.
What Insurance Covers
Under the Affordable Care Act, most health plans must cover screening mammograms as a preventive service at no cost to you, with no copay, coinsurance, or deductible, as long as you use an in-network provider. This applies to Marketplace plans, most employer-sponsored plans, and Medicaid expansion plans. When you call to schedule, confirm the facility is in your insurance network to avoid unexpected bills.
Diagnostic mammograms are billed differently. They’re not classified as preventive care, so your regular deductible and copay structure typically applies. Some states have passed laws requiring insurers to cover diagnostic mammograms at no additional cost, but this varies.
If You’re Uninsured or Underinsured
The CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program offers free or low-cost screening mammograms to people aged 40 to 64 whose income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level and who lack insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover the exam. You can find your state’s program through the CDC website. Many hospitals and breast centers also run their own financial assistance programs or offer discounted self-pay rates, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Timing Your Appointment
If you menstruate, try to schedule your mammogram for the week or two after your period ends. Breasts tend to be more tender and swollen in the days leading up to and during menstruation, which can make the compression more uncomfortable and potentially affect image quality. If you’re postmenopausal or don’t have a regular cycle, any time works.
How to Prepare the Day Of
On the day of your mammogram, skip deodorant, antiperspirant, powders, lotions, creams, and perfumes on your underarms and chest. These products can contain particles that show up as white spots on the X-ray, potentially mimicking or hiding abnormalities. Many people find it easiest to wear a two-piece outfit so you only need to remove your top. You’ll change into a gown at the facility.
Bring your insurance card and, if applicable, your doctor’s referral order. If you’ve arranged a records transfer from a previous facility, mention it at check-in so the radiologist has your prior images available for comparison. The exam itself typically takes about 20 minutes. Each breast is compressed briefly between two plates while images are captured, and most facilities will have your results mailed or posted to a patient portal within one to two weeks.