What is Cancer Screening?
Cancer screening is the process of looking for cancer before any symptoms are apparent. When cancers are found early, and before they have spread to other parts of the body, they are often easier to treat and have better outcomes.
The Importance of Early Detection
The cure rate of lung cancer detected in its early stages is greater than 80 percent. Though the benefits of early screening are well known, most people eligible and entitled to an annual lung screening computed tomography (CT) scan are not tested.
As shown in the graph to the right, according to the National Institute of Health Cancer Trends Progress Report in 2019, only 5 percent of eligible patients were screened for lung cancer. Eligible patients were screened at much higher rates for breast (76%), cervical (74%), colorectal (67%) and prostate cancer (39%). Each year more people lose their lives to lung cancer than all of these forms of cancer combined. These losses are because, most of the time, lung cancer is found too late and has spread. Early, routine screening saves lives.
Does Insurance Cover Lung Cancer Screenings?
Almost all insurance programs, including Medicare, provide coverage for lung cancer screening for those who meet the requirements. Check your health plan to find out if you have coverage. For questions, reach out to Patient Financial Services.
Who is Eligible for Insurance-Covered Screening?
If you or a loved one answers yes to all of the questions below, you or they should consider screening for lung cancer:
- Are you between the ages of 50 to 77 years old?
- Do you currently smoke, or did you quit smoking in the last 15 years?
- Have you smoked 20 pack years or more? A pack year is a way to measure the amount a person has smoked over a long period of time. See the calculation in the panel to the right.
Insurance coverage for lung cancer screening currently applies to those who smoke or have previously smoked tobacco cigarettes. Ask your healthcare provider to discuss whether further testing is needed if you have the following other potential risk factors:
- Exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, asbestos, or other inhaled cancer-causing agents in the workplace
- Family history
- Smoked cigars or pipes
To calculate pack years, multiply the number of years you smoked by how many packs of cigarettes you smoked per day. For more information, visit the Smoking Pack-Years Calculator website.
What are the Benefits and Risks of Early Screening?
With cancer, the sooner healthcare providers identify it, the easier it is to treat. As with all medical procedures, there are benefits and some associated risks.
The benefits of diagnosing lung cancer early include:
- Lung cancer screening saves lives.
- Treatment may be more successful.
- You may have more treatment choices.
The risks of lung cancer screening include:
- False alarms.
- Overdiagnosis.
- Radiation.
Who Do I Contact For a Lung Screening?
Ask your healthcare provider to discuss your options or see if you qualify for a lung cancer screening that is covered by insurance.
