Annual lung cancer screening is recommended and covered by Medicare and most private insurers for individuals whose age and smoking history place them at higher risk for lung cancer.
Screening guideline recommendations
The most recent United States Preventive Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation, issued in March 2021, recommends annual lung cancer screening for people who are:
- Between ages 50 and 80 and,
- Have a 20 pack-year* smoking history or greater and,
- Currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.
*How to calculate your pack years: Average number of packs smoked per day X number of years you have smoked = your pack years [Example 1: 1 pack a day for 20 years = 20 pack years; Example 2: 2 packs a day for 10 years = 20 pack years.]
There is some research to support screening people who may be younger or who have smoked less but who also have another factor that increases their risk of lung cancer, such as a diagnosis of COPD, a family history of lung cancer, and job or military service exposure to cancer-causing agents like radon and asbestos. Tell your doctor and find out if a low-dose CT scan may be right for you.