Lauren Sausser

Last year, Stephanie Halver’s primary care doctor consulted a risk assessment tool to calculate her chances of one day developing breast cancer. Halver, now 43, remembered the likelihood “popped up really high.” That’s partly because Halver’s mother and a... See more

Key TakeawaysA breast MRI may be recommended for patients with an increased risk of breast cancerHealth insurers are not required to pay for it as a preventive screeningThey are likely to pay, however, if a woman has had an abnormal mammogram.FRIDAY, Aug.... See more

Her health insurer approved a breast MRI. She still owed $1,200. Lauren Sausser | KFF Health News Updated Wed, August 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC 7 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Last year, Stephanie Halver's pr... See more

Bill of the Month Her Breast MRI Was Approved, But That Didn’t Mean Her Insurance Would Pay A woman in Washington state discovered that unlike mammograms, breast MRIs aren’t universally covered as zero-cost preventive care. Stephanie Halver underwent a br... See more

We are destroying the natural world that humans depend upon for life itself EDITOR'S DISCLOSURE: I worked with Peter when we were both in Washington and working on hazardous waste problems. Peter was an inspiration and one of the best thinkers on how to a... See more