Medicaid can help women pay for breast and cervical cancer treatments.
Medicaid is health insurance which is funded by the state and federal governments. It is offered to low-income families, as well as people who meet other eligibility requirements. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, breast and cervical cancer is a Medicaid eligibility category for women who meet certain qualifications.
The Facts
Medicaid provides coverage for treatment to women with breast or cervical cancer who have met the eligibility requirements. Every U.S. state provides Medicaid coverage to women with breast or cervical cancer. This also includes precancerous conditions. A woman will be able to continue to receive coverage for her breast and cervical cancer treatments until her doctors says she no longer has cancer or she no longer meets Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
Women who are eligible for Medicaid coverage of breast and cervical cancer must meet certain eligibility requirements. They must have been diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer or precancerous conditions. To be eligible to receive Medicaid benefits for breast and cervical cancer, women must meet income requirements, be under 65 years of age, and must not have any other form of health insurance. They must not qualify for Medicaid under any eligibility categories.
Other Qualifications
To qualify for Medicaid coverage for breast and cervical cancer, women must have been screened through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. This program was established to provide low-income and uninsured women with free clinical breast exams, mammograms, pap tests, pelvic exams, diagnostic testing, and referrals to treatment. Women who are not diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer at centers that support the CDC's program are likely to be denied Medicaid coverage.
Significance
Being diagnosed with breast cancer or cervical cancer and precancerous conditions can be very scary. Unfortunately, women who are unable to easily afford treatments may become more stressed out. Medicaid allows eligible women to focus on fighting off the cancer, rather than worrying about pay for their treatments. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast is one of the three most common types of cancer among women. While cervical cancer is less common, treating precancerous conditions can prevent it from progressing.
Considerations
In order to receive Medicaid coverage in any state, women will be required to be a state resident. In addition, she will need to be a United States citizen or, in some states, an alien with satisfactory immigration status. American Indian and Alaskan Native women are also eligible to receive Medicaid coverage for breast and cervical cancer. Some states offer presumptive eligibility, which allows the woman to receive immediate benefits before her application has been filed. This can ensure earlier treatment.
Tags: cervical cancer, breast cervical, breast cervical cancer, Medicaid coverage, with breast
