This bill requires health insurance companies to cover lung cancer screenings for people age 40 and older without charging any out-of-pocket costs, regardless of their smoking history. Currently, insurance must cover lung cancer screening only starting at age 55 and only for people with a 30-pack-year smoking history, while screening for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers begins at earlier ages without such restrictions. The legislation aims to improve survival rates by catching lung cancer in earlier stages when treatment is more effective, noting that lung cancer has a much lower five-year survival rate than other major cancers. The requirement takes effect for insurance plans beginning on or after January 1, 2026. No specific funding amount is mentioned in the bill; the cost would be absorbed by health insurers through their coverage of this preventive service.
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