Early screening can help diagnose cervical cancer. With early intervention, cervical cancer can be prevented or treated in its earliest stages. The Pap test and teh HPV tests are early indicators of cervical cancer. However, for many women, the costs of screening tests are too high.
In a recent study, as many as 71% of women reported that the high cost of screening was the biggest reason for their failure to get tested. Another common cause for failure to get screening was the high cost of follow- ups and treatments. As many as 44% cited high costs of treatment as the reason they did not get screening.
Women from lower socioeconomic groups were much less likely to have the kind of insurance that covered cervical cancer screening. Low- income women, according to the researchers, are specifically in need of more insurance options that allow them to get screening earlier. The researchers also recommend expanding free screening programs. Sixty-four percent of women with no insurance received testing for cervical cancer. Among women with government insurance, the rate was 78%. Insurance status seems to play a huge role in whether a woman has access to cervical cancer screening. Actual, out -of -pocket costs may be too heavy for some women to bear, which encourages them to postpone or delay their screening.