Mandates health insurance coverage by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for lung cancer screenings in order to enable patients to get the critical care they need without delay.

Rhode Island Bill: Free Lung Cancer Screenings

This bill would require health insurance plans in Rhode Island to cover lung cancer screenings at no cost to the patient. That means people would not have to pay copays, deductibles, or any other out-of-pocket fees when getting screened for lung cancer. The goal is to make sure that cost is not a barrier preventing people from getting this type of preventive care.

The bill would affect Rhode Island residents who have health insurance and are eligible for lung cancer screenings — typically people at higher risk, such as long-time smokers or older adults who meet certain medical guidelines. Insurance companies operating in the state would be required to cover these screenings fully, rather than passing any portion of the cost on to patients.

Currently, this bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House and referred to the House Health & Human Services Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study. That means it has not yet advanced toward becoming law, and lawmakers are still reviewing and considering it. If it does pass, it would join similar efforts in other states aimed at improving access to early cancer detection, which medical experts generally believe leads to better treatment outcomes.