Medicare eligibility guidelines for annual lung cancer screening generally align with those of the US Preventive Services Task Force. To be eligible for annual preventive health screenings through Medicare, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be 50 to 77 years old
• have no symptoms of lung cancer
• Current smoker or former smoker who quit within the last 15 years
• Tobacco consumption of at least 20 “pack years”, which corresponds to the daily consumption of a pack of 20 cigarettes over 20 years
• a doctor or other healthcare professional orders the screening

For lung cancer screening guidelines, a “pack-year” is an average based on smoking one pack a day for 20 years. 20 pack-years can also mean smoking two packs a day for 10 years or half a pack a day for 40 years.

If you meet lung cancer screening guidelines and see a doctor who makes the screening referral, Medicare will cover the full cost.

When a healthcare provider accepts subrogation, it means they will cover the cost that Medicare covers for a lung cancer screening. If the doctor bills more than that amount, you will have to pay the difference.

Depending on your screening results, you may need additional tests to make a diagnosis. There is also the possibility of a false positive result. If you need additional tests, you will have to cover your share of the costs yourself. These may include:

• Your deductible for Part B
• 20% of the costs for additional appointments or examinations after the deductible has been reached
• Your Part A deductible if you require hospitalization (for example, for an open lung biopsy)

Lung cancer screenings use low-dose computed tomography (also called low-dose CT scan). A low-dose CT scan uses imaging to identify masses or nodules in the lungs before they grow large enough to cause symptoms.

A low-dose CT scan for lung cancer usually takes less than a minute. A technician will usually have you lie quietly on a table or hospital bed that slides in and out of the scanner. You may be asked to hold your breath briefly.

A specialist will read the test and a member of your care team will contact you with the results when they are available. If you have electronic records, you can see your results online before your doctor has read the test.

While low-dose CT scans help with early detection and reduce deaths from lung cancer, these tests can sometimes detect benign tumors or produce false positive results.

If your test result is positive, your doctor will likely recommend further follow-up tests, some of which may be invasive.

Medicare covers approved lung cancer treatments provided by a health care professional or facility that accepts Medicare. Treatment may include:

Medicare also covers the cost of other services you need as part of your cancer treatment. These may include:

• additional testing and monitoring
• Doctor’s appointments
• Proceedings
• infused medications
• some oral cancer drugs that may be covered by Medicare Part B or D if you have a Part D plan

You are responsible for deductibles and copayments. A Medicare supplement plan or Medigap plan can help cover out-of-pocket costs associated with your treatment.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, it must cover at least what would be covered by Original Medicare. It may also cover additional services not covered by Medicare.

However, if you choose an experimental or complementary treatment, keep in mind that these are usually not covered by health insurance.

Read more about Medicare coverage for cancer treatments.

Medicare typically covers the cost of recommended cancer screening tests.

Medicare covers the full cost of annual lung cancer screenings if you meet eligibility criteria and have the screening at a health care facility that accepts Medicare.

If you are at high risk for lung cancer and do not have symptoms of lung cancer, you may be eligible for annual screening tests.

Lung cancer screenings help detect and treat lung cancer early, but there is also the possibility of false positives. If the test result is positive, additional tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.