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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Hannah Harris Green

US under-45s struggle for insurance approval as colon cancer rates rise

27,000 blue flags displayed at the National Mall to represent lives saved from colorectal cancer
27,000 blue flags on the National Mall represent lives that could be saved from colorectal cancer with further funding, on 6 March 2026. Photograph: Heather Diehl/Getty Images

As colon cancer rates are rising among people in their 20s and 30s, some adults in the US who are under 45 and experiencing worrying symptoms are struggling to get insurance coverage for colonoscopies, which can detect colon cancer.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurance companies to cover colonoscopies for people over 45 “because it’s been recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force”, says Caitlin Murphy, a cancer epidemiologist and professor at the University of Chicago. The ACA requires preventive screenings, including pap smears, for example, to be completely covered.

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