Annual CT Scans

I was given the question: Should annual CT scans be given to detect early signs of lung cancer, and should insurance or the individual pay for these scans. This question got me thinking. It would be nice to know at least once a year that you are safe from cancer by just getting one scan done. Sure there could be something that did not show up on the scan but for the most part a scan like this is accurate. By having this exam you would know that nothing is wrong with you and you are healthy. Many people tend to think about their health and wonder. People want to know if some part of their body has a cancerous spot. We all know that you do not feel cancer and it is painless in the beginning. If a person does not get checked out then they will never know. There are many benefits from this type of scan. Not only will the test scan your lungs, but it will scan all internal organs, soft tissue, bones, and blood vessels. A person would have the satisfaction of knowing that the doctor did not see any problems. The CT scan allows better detailed pictures then the old-fashioned x-ray. It is a more advanced machine with many perks. The only problem is this sort of test does not come at a small price. The average price of one CT scan is over $2,000! That is a big sum of money to pay out a year on top of all of the other bills that have accumulated. In my opinion, I believe that an insurance company should cover this sort of exam. It is actually no different than an annual physical or yearly check-up with a doctor. Sure it may cost more, but it is a good procedure to have done. I am not saying that an insurance company should have to pay the entire amount to have this procedure done, but I do believe that should pay at least 75%. The whole point of insurance is for it to be there when you need it. If a person sick and have to go to the doctor, it’s there. If a person has a baby an insurance company pays. How is this any different? Older women are recommended to have a yearly mammogram done to check for signs of breast cancer. The CT scan is no different than that except for the price. They both check for cancerous spots and do the same job, but are different machines. An insurance company covers a yearly mammogram, how is a yearly CT scan any different? I believe that it is a good idea to have an annual CT scan done. It should be thought of as another annual checkup. I also believe that the insurance company should cover this expense just like they do an annual checkup.