If you are between the ages of 55-77 and are either a current smoker or someone who has quit smoking in the last 15 years, and you have a history of at least 30 “pack years,” Medicare will pay for the cost of annual lung cancer screenings. The screening test includes a low-dose CT. This coverage is effective immediately and applies nationwide, according to a February 5, 2015 press release from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer kills nearly 160,000 people a year. Experts project that this screening test, which costs $250-$300, may prevent as many as 20 percent of deaths from lung cancer. In order to qualify for the free screening, beneficiaries must obtain a written order from a physician, indicating that the patient underwent counseling on their lung cancer screenings.
For more information on how Medicare is covering lung cancer screenings contact the Goosmann Law Firm at info@goosmannlaw.com or (712) 226-4000.