Pennsylvania mandates free colon cancer screenings for adults over 45
A new state law closes a coverage gap for patients with state-regulated insurance plans, aligning state policy with recent federal guideline changes.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
Pennsylvania residents who hold state-regulated health insurance will soon access routine colon cancer screenings without cost starting at age 45. The state previously required patients to be 50 to qualify for full coverage of these preventive services.
The measure passed the state legislature with bipartisan support. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the bill into law on October 22. It takes effect in December. By 2028, most state-regulated insurance plans must comply with the new age threshold. This change applies to coverage for colonoscopies, stool test kits, and blood tests.
The law closes a specific gap in insurance coverage. Federal agencies adopted updated screening recommendations in 2021. Those changes required private health insurance plans to cover screenings at no cost for patients starting at age 45. However, state-regulated plans often still charged fees for patients under 50 who lacked a documented family history of the disease. State Rep. Pat Gallagher, a lead sponsor of the bill, noted that insurance companies often avoided paying for preventative maintenance in those cases.
Gallagher, a Democrat from Philadelphia, is a colon cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with late-stage cancer at age 45 in early 2020. Doctors initially suspected diverticulitis but found four tumors during surgery. His treatment involved multiple surgeries, a temporary colostomy bag, and chemotherapy. Gallagher estimates his insurance paid close to $1 million for that care. He compares that figure to the average $2,500 cost for a screening colonoscopy that might have detected the cancer earlier.
The American Cancer Society recommended starting screenings at age 45 in 2018. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force made the same recommendation in 2021. Data shows that colon cancer rates among people under 50 have risen rapidly in recent years. Gallagher said the new law is one small step toward greater early detection. He emphasized that colon cancer is treatable and curable if found early.
State Rep. Jordan Harris represents parts of West and Southwest Philadelphia. He lost his wife, Tiffany Harris, to the disease in 2024 at age 36. Harris said he did not believe his wife would have been considered high risk before her diagnosis. He stated that routine screening access might have caught her case earlier. Harris said no family in the state should experience that same pain when the disease goes undetected for too long.
Lawmakers are already discussing further changes. Gallagher plans to introduce legislation next term to lower the recommended minimum age to 40. He acknowledged that getting the age down to 35 would be a massive effort. He believes reaching 40 is achievable and important for preventing deaths in younger adults.
