Evidence-based guidelines
Links to USPSTF, CDC, and American Cancer Society—trusted sources that differ by age, sex, smoking history, and health history.
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Preventive & screening
This guide helps you find evidence-based screening information and where to get care. ContactNurse does not personalize screening schedules or tell you what you are due for—that depends on your age, sex, health history, and clinician. Ask your plan’s nurse line whether you may be due.
Where to get screened
Primary care for referrals, FQHCs with sliding fees, and labs for blood tests and some specimen collection when ordered.
Coverage & free options
Understand preventive vs. diagnostic billing, national average cost ranges, and programs for uninsured or underinsured people.
When to get help now
Call 911 or go to the ER for severe chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, a rapidly growing lump, or symptoms your clinician told you to treat as an emergency.
A new lump, blood in stool or urine, unexplained weight loss, or a mole that is changing can still need urgent or same-day evaluation even when it is not a 911 emergency. When in doubt, call your plan’s nurse line or seek care today.
Evidence-based screening
National guidelines differ by age, sex, smoking history, family history, and prior results. Use these trusted sources—not social media or ads—to learn what is generally recommended.
ContactNurse does not calculate your personal screening schedule. Your primary care clinician or plan nurse line can help with timing and referrals.
- USPSTF — Prevention recommendations: Independent U.S. expert panel covering breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and other preventive services.
- CDC — Cancer screening: Overview of breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung screening with links to programs.
- American Cancer Society — Screening: Patient-friendly guides on when and how common cancer screenings are done.
Where to get screened
Most screening starts with a primary care visit or referral. Mammograms, colonoscopy, and LDCT lung scans happen at imaging centers or hospitals; Pap/HPV tests are often done in clinic or at a lab.
- Primary care: Start here for referrals, orders, and shared decision-making.
- FQHCs: Community health centers with sliding fees—see HRSA Find a Health Center or search FQHCs in ContactNurse.
- Labs: For blood tests and some specimen collection when ordered—see our Labs & Testing guide.
Coverage & cost
Many ACA-compliant plans cover recommended preventive services at no cost when you use an in-network provider. Medicare and Medicaid rules differ by service and state.
Use ContactNurse’s Medical Cost Estimator for national average cash ranges on common screening services, including:
- Mammogram (screening): roughly $100–$350 cash
- Colonoscopy (screening): roughly $1,000–$4,500 cash
- Pap smear / cervical cytology: roughly $50–$200 cash
- HPV test (high-risk): roughly $30–$120 cash
- Low-dose CT lung cancer screening (LDCT): roughly $150–$500 cash
Tip: Confirm “preventive” vs. “diagnostic” billing before your visit—follow-up testing after an abnormal result may not be covered at 100%.
Free & low-cost options
Screening programs for uninsured or underinsured people are usually run through health centers, state health departments, or national cancer programs—not walk-in commercial imaging centers.
- HRSA Find a Health Center: FQHCs offer preventive visits and referrals on a sliding fee.
- CDC NBCCEDP — Breast & cervical screening: Free or low-cost mammograms and Pap tests for eligible people in many states.
- American Cancer Society — Get screened: Help finding local screening resources and patient support.
Talk to your nurse line first
Questions like “Am I due for a mammogram?” or “Where should I go for a colonoscopy?” are a good fit for your plan’s 24/7 nurse advice line—they can point you to in-network options without replacing your clinician.
Check the number on your member ID card or use Nurse Finder in ContactNurse to locate your plan’s nurse line. Learn more about nurse advice lines.
What to be cautious about
Direct-to-consumer full-body MRI or CT “cancer scans,” and multi-cancer blood tests marketed without a primary care visit, are often not covered by insurance and may lead to unnecessary follow-up. Discuss any screening test with a clinician who knows your history.
Preventive & screening FAQ
Does ContactNurse tell me when I’m due for screening?
No. ContactNurse does not personalize screening schedules or tell you what you are due for. Timing depends on your age, sex, health history, and clinician. Ask your primary care clinician or plan nurse line about screening timing and referrals.
Where can I find evidence-based screening guidelines?
ContactNurse links to USPSTF prevention recommendations, CDC cancer screening overviews, and American Cancer Society patient guides. National guidelines differ by age, sex, smoking history, family history, and prior results.
How do I find free or low-cost mammograms and Pap tests?
Try HRSA community health centers, the CDC NBCCEDP program, and American Cancer Society patient support. ContactNurse links to these programs and helps you search FQHCs by ZIP or city.
Should I get a direct-to-consumer full-body cancer scan?
ContactNurse cautions that DTC full-body MRI or CT scans and multi-cancer blood tests marketed without a primary care visit are often not covered and may lead to unnecessary follow-up. Discuss any screening test with a clinician who knows your history.
Important safety note
This guide links to established national organizations. ContactNurse does not provide medical advice, verify insurance coverage, or personalize screening schedules. For emergencies call 911.