Are you uninsured and in need of a mammogram?

Reach Out for Life might be able to help…

What is the Reach Out for Life Program? 

Reach Out for Life is a program that promotes breast health and assists at-risk populations with obtaining mammograms, including free mammograms for uninsured women who qualify financially.  The Affiliate promotes this program to eligible constituents through our partners and targeted pilot programs.  The program is offered in all 13 counties in the Affiliate’s service area:  Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, and Somerset.

Who qualifies for a free mammogram?

To qualify for a free mammogram, you should be:

• uninsured  
• have a total household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level
• between the ages of 40-64 (however, there are special circumstances which might  permit someone under the age of 40 to receive a free mammogram such as if you are symptomatic or have a strong family history of breast cancer).

If eligible, a helpline specialist will follow each woman's care and ensure she is connected with the health services she needs and that she makes and keeps all of her appointments.  If ineligible, women will be referred to other local resources in the community (e.g. Federally Qualified Health Centers, hospitals or clinics).

How do I find out if I qualify?

Call our toll-free helpline, 1-877-MAMMOS-1, to find out.  All calls are free and confidential.  Specialists are available 9am-5pm (M-F). 

What happens when I call?

A helpline specialist will ask you a few questions about your annual income, insurance status, screening history, and basic demographics (age, location, etc.) to determine if you are eligible.  If eligible, you will be connected with a screening site in your county that will contact you to make an appointment.  If you are not eligible, you will be referred to other local resources in your community (e.g. hospitals or clinics) that can help you find an affordable screening option. 

Why should I call?

There are too many reasons to list them all!  But here are just a few:

• You will receive a $20 gift card for completing your screening
• Your mammogram could be free and it only takes a brief phone call to find out
• Every 13 minutes a woman dies from breast cancer, so it is important to get checked every year
• The earlier breast cancer is found, the greater your chances are for a long and healthy life
• If you take care of your breast health today, you can be there for those who need you most tomorrow

Who does the affiliate partner with to implement this program?

The toll-free helpline (1-877-MAMMOS-1) is answered by call specialists who are based out of CancerCare’s headquarters in New York City.  These specialists are trained social workers who screen callers for their eligibility for the program while providing guidance and counseling. 

We are also implementing several different targeted and innovative approaches to reach specific populations of interest through four local pilot programs operating in six counties. 

• Tri-County Community Action Partnership (Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties)
• Cooper University Hospital’s Camden County Cancer Screening Project (Camden County)
• Monmouth Medical Center’s Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center (Monmouth County)
• Cape Regional Medical Center’s Parish Nurse Program (Cape May County)

Who provides the screening services for the program?

All of the pilot programs (except Tri-County) provide screening services for program participants at their hospitals.  Additionally, the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection Program (NJ CEED) provides screening services at their screening sites located throughout our service area.  NJCEED is a state-funded program that provides screening and treatment services for uninsured women with incomes at or below 250% of the FPL.  Our Affiliate provides additional funding to the pilot sites and the NJCEED program to screen women with incomes between 251-300% of the FPL.  By providing funding to screen women in this income bracket, our Affiliate aims to help close the gap in access to health care services for women that do not qualify for state-funded services, but still do not have the financial means to acquire screening services on their own.

Why is this program important? 

Breast cancer accounts for more than one in four cancers diagnosed among women in the U.S, and is second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths among women.  New Jersey is ranked sixth in the country for breast cancer incidence (the number of new cases each year) and eighth in the country for breast cancer mortality (the number of deaths each year).  Additionally, there are over 1 million New Jersey residents who do not have health insurance.  This translates to roughly 15% of New Jersey’s total population.   

The good news is that we know that early detection saves lives.  Mammograms can detect breast cancer before a woman has any symptoms and often before the cancer spreads.  If breast cancer is caught and treated in its earliest stages, women have a 98% chance of surviving at least five years, on average.  However, the chance of survival greatly decreases the later breast cancer is diagnosed. This is why it is so vital to reach out to uninsured, at-risk populations in our service area with programs like Reach Out for Life that work to ensure these populations have access to vital breast cancer screening services that could help save their lives.  Every woman should have the opportunity to lead a long, healthy life.  Reach Out for Life aims to provide this opportunity to women in Central and South Jersey who need it most.

Who can I contact for more information? 

Jessica Morton, MPH, CHES, Manager of Education & Outreach Programs, at:  609-896-1201 (ext. 15) or jmorton@komencsnj.org.

This program has been made possible due in part to funding from the
following organizations and individuals:

The Bunbury Company, Central NJ’s Pink Ribbon Run,
The Gathered to Give Foundation and The Jean A. LaPlaca Fund.