Understanding Sage and Sage Plus: Free Breast, Cervical, and Heart Health Screenings for Eligible Minnesota Women
Many women put their own health at the bottom of the priority list. Between work, family responsibilities, caregiving, and busy schedules, preventive healthcare can easily be delayed. Unfortunately, breast cancer, cervical cancer, heart disease, and stroke often develop silently before symptoms appear.
The good news is that Minnesota offers programs designed to remove financial barriers and help women receive important preventive screenings at little or no cost. Two of these programs are Sage and Sage Plus.
What Is the Sage Program?
Sage is a Minnesota program that helps eligible women receive free breast and cervical cancer screenings.
The goal of Sage is simple: detect cancer early when treatment is most effective and outcomes are often much better.
Through Sage, eligible women may receive:
- Clinical breast exams
- Mammograms
- Pap tests
- HPV testing
- Diagnostic follow-up testing if abnormalities are found
- Navigation and support throughout the screening process
Early detection saves lives. When breast and cervical cancers are found in their earliest stages, treatment options are often less invasive and survival rates are significantly higher.
What Is Sage Plus?
Sage Plus expands on the Sage program by focusing on cardiovascular health.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among women in the United States, yet many women are unaware of their personal risk. Sage Plus provides preventive screenings and education designed to identify health concerns early and help women stay healthy.
Through Sage Plus, eligible women may receive:
- Blood pressure screening
- Cholesterol testing
- Diabetes screening
- Lifestyle counseling
- Referrals and follow-up care when needed
By identifying concerns early, women can take steps to reduce their risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other chronic conditions.
Who Qualifies for Sage?
Eligibility requirements may vary slightly, but generally women may qualify if they:
- Live in Minnesota
- Are between ages 40 and 64 for breast cancer screening services
- Are between ages 30 and 64 for cervical cancer screening services
- Meet program income guidelines
- Are uninsured or underinsured
Even if you have insurance, you may still qualify depending on your coverage and circumstances.
Who Qualifies for Sage Plus?
Women may qualify for Sage Plus if they:
- Live in Minnesota
- Are between ages 35 and 64
- Meet the program income guidelines
- Qualify for Sage services
Sage Plus helps women understand their cardiovascular health through screenings and preventive care. The program is designed to identify potential concerns early, giving women the opportunity to make lifestyle changes and receive treatment before serious complications develop.
Why Breast Cancer Screening Matters
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women. Approximately 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.
The challenge is that early breast cancer often causes no symptoms.
A mammogram can detect abnormalities before they can be felt during a self-exam or physical exam. Finding cancer early can:
- Increase treatment success rates
- Reduce the need for aggressive treatments
- Improve quality of life
- Save lives
Women should talk with their healthcare provider about when to begin screening and how often mammograms should be performed based on their individual risk factors.
Why Cervical Cancer Screening Matters
Cervical cancer is largely preventable through regular screening.
Most cervical cancers develop slowly over time and begin as abnormal cell changes caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Regular Pap tests and HPV testing can:
- Detect abnormal cells before cancer develops
- Identify HPV infections that increase cancer risk
- Allow treatment before cancer forms
- Significantly reduce cervical cancer deaths
Many women with early cervical cancer have no symptoms, making routine screening especially important.
Why Heart Health Screening Matters
While breast and cervical cancer receive significant attention, heart disease actually claims more women’s lives each year than all forms of cancer combined.
Risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity often develop without noticeable symptoms.
Simple screenings can identify these risks early, allowing women to make changes before serious health problems occur.
Lifestyle changes such as improved nutrition, increased physical activity, weight management, smoking cessation, and stress reduction can dramatically reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
How Aslan Health Supports Women’s Health
Aslan Health is proud to participate in both Sage and Sage Plus, helping women access important preventive services regardless of their ability to pay.
Our team can help determine eligibility, complete screenings, provide follow-up care, and connect patients with additional resources when needed.
As a Sage Plus Clinic, Aslan Health also offers the Lifestyle Rx program, which helps participants build healthier habits through education, support, and practical tools for long-term success. Lifestyle Rx focuses on nutrition, physical activity, weight management, and other healthy lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve overall health.
We believe healthcare should be accessible, affordable, and focused on prevention whenever possible.
Don’t Wait for Symptoms
Many serious health conditions develop quietly. By the time symptoms appear, treatment can become more complicated and expensive.
Preventive screenings offer an opportunity to detect problems early, when they are often easiest to treat.
If you are a woman between the ages of 30 and 64 and have questions about Sage or Sage Plus, contact Aslan Health today. Our team can help determine your eligibility and connect you with the screenings you need to stay healthy.
Your health matters—and early detection could save your life.