Will my insurance pay for my Pap test and HPV test?

Your coverage will depends on the type of insurance you have.

Private Insurance

All private insurance covers routine screening with the Pap test. Most insurance companies pay for HPV testing for routine screening in women age 30 and older. Insurance benefits vary, so you may want to call your insurance company before your doctor's visit to find out if your policy covers the test.

If your insurance plan doesn't yet cover HPV testing, you will likely get a bill from your lab for the cost of the test. The amount billed for an HPV test varies across the country. Ask your doctor what the lab usually charges in your area. Remember that if your Pap and HPV results are "normal" (as they are for most women), you only will need to pay the fee for the HPV test every three years.

Medicaid

Medicaid programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia cover Pap tests. Nearly all states and the District of Columbia cover HPV testing as well. Please check with your state Medicaid office to learn more about what services you are provided for cervical cancer screening.

Medicare

Medicare covers Pap tests once every 24 months. If you are of childbearing age, have had an abnormal Pap test within the past 3 years, or if you are at high risk for cervical cancer, Medicare will pay for a Pap test every 12 months. To learn more about your Medicare benefits, call (800) MEDICARE or (800) 633-4227. Or visit www.medicare.gov.

No Insurance

All states are making cervical cancer screening more available to women through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). This program provides cervical cancer screening to you if you do not have health insurance at no cost or for very little cost. For more information on this program, please contact the CDC at www.cdc.gov/cancer. To get a free or low-cost Pap test, call 1-888-842-6355 and select option 7.