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 companies in Rhode Island to cover lung cancer screenings at no cost to patients. That means people would not have to pay anything out of pocket — no copays, no deductibles, and no coinsurance — when they get screened for lung cancer. The goal is to make sure that cost is not a reason someone skips or delays an important medical test.

Lung cancer screenings are typically recommended for people at higher risk, such as long-time smokers or older adults with a significant smoking history. Currently, some insured patients may still face out-of-pocket costs depending on their specific health plan, which can discourage them from getting screened. By removing those costs entirely, the bill aims to help catch lung cancer earlier, when it is generally easier to treat and outcomes tend to be better.

This bill would affect Rhode Island residents who have private health insurance, as well as the insurance companies that provide those plans. Insurers would be required to update their coverage rules to eliminate cost-sharing for these screenings. The bill has been introduced and sent to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, where lawmakers will review it before deciding whether to move it forward.