Studies have shown that annual screening for those at high risk with a low dose CT (LDCT) scan before symptoms are present can find lung cancer early when it is easier to treat and more likely to be cured. Lung cancer screening might also show if you have other conditions or diseases (such as early stage heart disease or COPD) that need to be treated.
Will my insurance cover it?
For most individuals who meet the high-risk criteria, low dose CT screening for lung cancer is covered every year by Medicare and most private insurance plans at 100% with no out-of-pocket cost—just like mammograms and other screening tests.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force updated the lung cancer screening recommendations in 2021 to include a larger population, expanding the age rage to 50-80-year-olds and decreased the pack history from 30 to 20. Commercial insurance and Medicaid Expansion plans are now required to cover screening for this additional population. For Medicare coverage, the age range is 50-77. If you meet your insurer’s eligibility criteria (both age and smoking history), your annual screening exam should be fully covered at no cost to you. However, if something is found during the screening that needs additional testing or follow-up scans before your next annual screening, these additional tests may have a cost such as a co-pay or deductible.
If you meet your insurer’s eligibility criteria (age/smoking history), your annual screening exam should be fully covered with no cost to you. However, if something is found during screening that needs additional testing or follow-up scans before your next annual screening, these additional tests may have a cost such as a co-pay or deductible.
Are there risks?
As with all cancer screening tests, this test is not perfect. Some cancers may still be missed. Some scans may show spots in the lung that look suspicious but may not be cancerous. These are called false positives. Similar to moles on the skin, your lungs may have nodules or spots that are watched but are normal or non-cancerous. When needed, your doctor may recommend additional testing to diagnose or rule out lung cancer. Usually that is another low-dose CT in a few months to see if the spots found during your screening have changed. Every low-dose CT scan—whether your screening test or a follow-up scan—involves a small amount of radiation. In some instances, your doctor may refer you for minimally invasive tissue sampling/biopsy, or possible surgery or other treatments
How often should I be screened?
Lung cancer can be aggressive and advance quickly between stages. This is why it is important to be tested every year until you are out of the recommended age range or for as long as your doctor recommends. Regular screenings will let your doctor see if spots in your lungs are stable or whether any changes over time may be more suspicious for cancer. Screening for lung cancer before symptoms appear is important. Without it, most people do not see signs of the disease until it has spread to other areas of the body, making it harder to treat. Talk to your doctor about the results of your screening to determine what you need to do next.