Two new state laws require health insurers to cover more cancer screenings.
The American Cancer Society estimates more than 48,000 people across the country will die of pancreatic cancer this year. Senator Adriane Johnson of Buffalo Grove sponsored one law that mandates coverage of medically necessary screenings for the disease.
“Pancreatic cancer falls a little bit under the radar although it’s very deadly and lethal. That is why this legislation is so important. It will definitely save lives.”
Johnston says the other mandates coverage of doctor recommended colonoscopies.
“What was happening was people that took the spit test or at home test, one of the brand names was Cologuard and they got a positive result. Then what was happening the insurance companies were treating the follow up colonoscopy as diagnostic and were not covering it.”
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related death, but if caught early has a 90% survival rate.
The changes take effect in January.
