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    home icon > Division of Public Health > About DPH > Sections > Bureau of Health Promotion > Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention > Screening for Life Program > Eligibility for Screening for Life

    Eligibility for Screening for Life

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    Eligibility for Screening for Life

    Screening for Life offers free screening tests for breast, cervical, colon, lung, and prostate cancer. You may be eligible if you:

    • Are a Delaware resident
    • Have health insurance that doesn’t cover screenings
    • Are age 21-64 and not eligibile for Medicaid
    • Are age 65 or older and do not qualify for Medicare
    • Meet income guidelines
    • Are not eligible for health insurance from the Health Insurance Marketplace

    Income Guidelines

    Delaware Residents are eligible for Screening for Life if they have a household income between 139% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Federal Poverty Level is based on annual household income and household size. A household consists of the individual, their spouse, and all dependent children under 18 years of age.

    Delaware Residents with an annual household income between 139% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for Screening for Life if they are deemed ineligible for Medicaid. Please refer to the Federal Poverty Guidelines that match the year in which you are applying for enrollment. The URL address is: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/

    Insurance Guidelines

    Uninsured

    • No medical insurance nor private HMO
    • Not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid
    • Not eligible for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace

    — or —

    Underinsured

    • Unmet deductible (deductible must be more than 15% of annual income)
    • Insurance does not cover breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate screenings

    The SFL program does not reimburse for co-pays or co-insurances.

    The program does provide reimbursement for persons who have a high deductible relative to their income. If your deductible is equal to or higher than 15% of your income, you may be eligible for SFL—if you meet all the other eligibility requirements.

    Screening for Life/Health Care Connection

    Please Note:These forms require legal size (8.5″ x 11″) paper.

    Get Screened for Cancer

    Three of the most commonly diagnosed cancers — breast, colorectal, and prostate — can be detected in their earliest stages.

    Routine cancer screenings can increase the chances of finding cancer early, and treating it.

    The chart below indicates the age at which you should be screened and how often.

    RECOMMENDED CANCER SCREENINGS

    Cancer TypeRecommended AgeScreeningHow OftenOther Actions
    Breast

    Women 25-39

    Woman 40 and Older    		Physical examination of breasts by a health care provider 1 and Clinical Breast Exam (CBE)

    Mammogram and CBE    		Every 1 to 3 years
    Annually    		Breast self-awareness 2 and Risk assessment 3 (Regularly)
    CervicalWomen 21 and older 4,5
    Women 21-29
    Women 30-65    		Pelvic Exam

    Pap Test
    Pap Test


    Annually

    Every 3 years
    Every 3 years
    or every 5 years with HPV co-testing    		N/A
    ColonMen & Women 45 and Older 4,5FIT Test
    Colonoscopy
    Cologuard    		Annually
    Every 10 years
    Every 3 years    		N/A
    LungMen and women 50-80 who:
    Smoke or have smoked a pack a day for 20 or more years, or 2 packs a day for 15 or more years
    Currently smoke or quit smoking within the past 15 years
    Screening should be discontinued once a person:
    Has not smoked for 15 years
    Develops a health problem that substantially limits life expectancy or the ability or willingness to have curative lung surgery    		Low-dose CT scanTalk to your health care provider to determine if a lung cancer screening is recommended.N/A
    ProstateAverage Risk: Men 50 & Older 4,5
    High Risk: Men 45 or older, including African Americans and men with a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (defined as younger than 65 years).
    Higher Risk: Men 40 and older – men with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age (less than 65 years old). 4,5    		Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test with or without a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)Talk to your health care provider to determine if a prostate screening is recommended.N/A

    Per Screening for Life guidelines dated July 2021.

    1 For women of average risk for breast cancer.
    2 Become familiar with the normal look and feel of breasts, reportng any changes to a health care provider.
    3 Determination of breast cancer risk based on age, family history, genetics, and personal medical and lifestyle histories.
    4 Talk with your doctor about individual screening recommendations.
    5 Individuals with a family history of cancer may qualify for screening at an early age.

    For more information, call the Screening for Life Program or 2-1-1 toll-free and ask for Screening for Life.