Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Cost of Health Care / 08.11.2016
Prevent Cancer Foundation Tool Compares Screening Coverage By Major Health Insurers
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Carolyn R. Aldigé
President of the Prevent Cancer Foundation
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this tool? What types of cancers are covered under this comparison tool?
Response: The coverage tool compares screening coverage by the 30 largest health insurers in the U.S. Consumers can use the tool to see their insurance plans' policies on coverage of screening tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers.
MedicalResearch.com: What are some of the differences in insurance coverage of screening tests?
Response: There is a sizable variation in what insurance plans cover, partly a result of differing screening guidelines from three leading organizations. Though insurance plans are required to cover screenings recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) without a co-pay, many will choose to cover other screening tests as well—but which guidelines do they follow? This is confusing to both patients and providers.
Breast cancer screening is an area where we see big differences in insurance coverage. All 30 plans cover 2D mammography, but only 13 plans cover 3D mammography (tomosynthesis).
Colorectal cancer screening coverage also differs. While almost all plans cover colonoscopy, CT colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and FIT and FOBT screening tests, there are differences in coverage of stool-based DNA tests.
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