CHICAGO – Health insurance providers have long encouraged people to take advantage of zero-cost preventive screenings, and new research from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) shows the clear benefits for patients. People who get these screenings are more likely to avoid invasive tests and treatment and will likely spend far less on cancer treatments.
The analysis looks at deidentified claims data from Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) members diagnosed with breast cancer or colon cancer to understand the health and financial impacts of preventive screenings compared to diagnostic tests, which typically occur as a result of a patient reporting a symptom.
“Getting care early makes a meaningful difference. Preventive screenings can help people stay healthier and get back to their lives sooner,” says Dr. Razia Hashmi, BCBSA’s vice president of Clinical Affairs.
Key findings include:
- 81% of members diagnosed with colon cancer via preventive screenings were classified as stage I, compared with 67% found after symptoms appeared.
- When breast cancer is detected through preventive screening, 86% of the time it’s stage I, the earliest and most treatable stage. When the cancer is detected through diagnostic testing, 77% of the cancers are at stage I.
- Detecting cancer early reduces treatment costs dramatically. Breast cancer treatment averages $82,900 when the cancer is detected at stage I. The cost soars to $249,200 if the cancer is found at stage IV. For colon cancer, treatment costs average $110,900 at stage I versus $255,700 at stage IV.
Detecting cancer earlier is linked with lower risk of disease spread and a lesser need for invasive treatments, consistent with broader clinical evidence. According to the analysis, near-term spending was lower among members whose cancers were identified through preventive screening, reflecting differences in stage at diagnosis and treatment intensity.
Preventive screenings are covered without cost-sharing under federal law and are also commonly available through employer-sponsored health coverage. A separate analysis of BCBS claims found that 5.6 million members in the individual market made a total of 18.8 million visits that included preventive care through their plan in 2023.
A majority of these preventive visits did not have out-of-pocket costs, so families had access to essential screenings without having to worry about straining their budgets. BCBS insurance providers paid for the $1.5 billion in covered preventive services.
Prevention is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep people healthy and lower costs. BCBS companies are committed to ensuring that our members receive the care they need, from mammograms to well-child visits.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans.