Colorectal Cancer Screening

Although colon cancer is the second largest cancer killer in America, it has one of the highest survival rates with early detection and treatment. (1) In order to detect colorectal cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends that all individuals over 50 get screened, either through a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy.

  • Colorectal Cancer Screening

      Strength Of Policy 2007 Change From 2004
    ALABAMA No/Harmful Policy Same
    ALASKA Meets Policy Better
    ARIZONA No/Harmful Policy Same
    ARKANSAS Meets Policy Better
    CALIFORNIA No/Harmful Policy Same
    COLORADO No/Harmful Policy Same
    CONNECTICUT Meets Policy Same
    DELAWARE Meets Policy Same
    DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Meets Policy Better
    FLORIDA No/Harmful Policy Same
    GEORGIA Meets Policy Same
    HAWAII No/Harmful Policy Same
    IDAHO No/Harmful Policy Same
    ILLINOIS Meets Policy Same
    INDIANA Meets Policy Same
    IOWA No/Harmful Policy Same
    KANSAS No/Harmful Policy Same
    KENTUCKY No/Harmful Policy Same
    LOUISIANA Meets Policy Better
    MAINE No/Harmful Policy Same
    MARYLAND Meets Policy Same
    MASSACHUSETTS No/Harmful Policy Same
    MICHIGAN No/Harmful Policy Same
    MINNESOTA No/Harmful Policy Same
    MISSISSIPPI No/Harmful Policy Same
    MISSOURI Meets Policy Same
    MONTANA No/Harmful Policy Same
    NEBRASKA No/Harmful Policy Same
    NEVADA Meets Policy Same
    NEW HAMPSHIRE No/Harmful Policy Same
    NEW JERSEY Meets Policy Same
    NEW MEXICO No/Harmful Policy Same
    NEW YORK No/Harmful Policy Same
    NORTH CAROLINA Meets Policy Same
    NORTH DAKOTA No/Harmful Policy Same
    OHIO No/Harmful Policy Same
    OKLAHOMA No/Harmful Policy Worse
    OREGON Meets Policy Better
    PENNSYLVANIA No/Harmful Policy Same
    RHODE ISLAND Meets Policy Same
    SOUTH CAROLINA No/Harmful Policy Same
    SOUTH DAKOTA No/Harmful Policy Same
    TENNESSEE No/Harmful Policy Worse
    TEXAS Meets Policy Same
    UTAH No/Harmful Policy Same
    VERMONT No/Harmful Policy Same
    VIRGINIA Meets Policy Same
    WASHINGTON No/Harmful Policy Same
    WEST VIRGINIA Meets Policy Same
    WISCONSIN No/Harmful Policy Same
    WYOMING Meets Policy Same
     
    Meets PolicyMeets Policy 20  
    Limited PolicyLimited Policy 0  
    Weak PolicyWeak Policy 0  
    No/Harmful PolicyNo/Harmful Policy 31  
    Better Better 5  
    Worse Worse 2  
    Same Same 44  

    Does the state require private insurers to cover colorectal cancer screening?

    States receive a "meets policy" if they require private insurers to cover colorectal cancer screening.  States receive a "no policy" if they do not require coverage of colorectal cancer screening.

    Data Source: Colorectal Cancer Screening, 2006.

    The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Mandated Benefits: Colorectal Cancer Screening, 2006," available at  http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?cat=7&ind=371, accessed May 23, 2007.

1. Colon Cancer Alliance, "Colorectal Cancer: Facts and Figures," undated, available at http://www.ccalliance.org/pdfs/crcfact.pdf.