If you do not have health insurance, there are a variety of resources available to help you locate free and low-cost medical care in your local community. In addition to providing screenings for different types of cancer, some programs offer testing for conditions, such as hepatitis, that may increase your risk of developing cancer. They also may provide access to vaccinations, such as human papilloma virus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccinations, that can help reduce your risk for certain cancers.
In addition to the resources listed below, contact your local hospital or healthcare facility to ask if they offer cancer screening, testing and vaccination through their foundations or outreach programs (including mobile testing).
For those people who have health insurance, most private insurance companies and Medicare cover the costs of certain cancer screenings, as required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, some insurance plans that were in place prior to the passage of the ACA in 2010, may not offer such coverage. Depending on the state in which you live, there may be laws that require private insurance companies and state plans, such as Medicaid, to cover some cancer screening services. Talk with your insurance company to determine your level of coverage. If your plan offers limited or no coverage for these services, the resources below can help.
