The Connecticut General Assembly passed a law this past session requiring health insurers to cover 3-D mammograms if a woman asks for one, but they can charge a co-pay.  The Courant reports that Cigna is the the first national insurer to cover the 3-D breast cancer screening. 

Traditional mammograms are free under the Affordable Care Act for women 40 and older. 

Cigna's announcement comes on the heels of a recommendation from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of major hospitals' cancer centers.  Part of the alliance, Yale Cancer Center, participated in clinical trials testing the machines.  The technology is manufactured by Danbury-based Hologic. 

The company funded the Yale study which, according to the Courant, found that for every 1,000 women screened, the combined tests found 4.1 cancers, compared to 2.9 with a traditional mammogram a year earlier.