Insurance Coverage

Private insurers and Medicaid are required to cover services that have an “A” or “B” grade by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This includes many, but not all, routine cancer screenings and checks. Coverage for services without an “A” or “B” grade varies by plan, and Medicare coverage for preventive services is limited to tests for which Congress has explicitly authorized coverage. (Tip: Always ask your insurance provider what your plan does and does not cover and what your co-pay or additional cancer screening costs may be.)

If you do not have insurance coverage, check out the free and low-cost cancer screenings resource, and look for services for uninsured people so you can get the cancer prevention and early detection care you need.

Getting health care coverage:

Medical care in the U.S. can be expensive, especially without insurance coverage. If you are uninsured, there are options to make sure you and your family are covered.

• Join your spouse’s insurance plan. If you have a “qualifying life event,” such as losing your job or getting married, you can enroll in your spouse’s plan even if it’s not their open enrollment period.
• Purchase a plan from the Affordable Care Act marketplace. There are open enrollment programs every year, or you may qualify for special enrollment periods through “qualifying life events.”
• Utilize COBRA. If you lose your job or your hours are reduced, you typically have the right to continue group health benefits for a limited period. Be aware that you may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102% of the cost for the plan.