Health Insurance & Medical Costs · Surprise rank #233
Uninsured or Underinsured? NY Can Provide Free Breast, Cervical and Colorectal Cancer Screening
New York’s Cancer Services Program provides free cancer screening and diagnostic services to eligible uninsured and underinsured residents.
Who
Eligible New Yorkers who are uninsured or underinsured and meet age, risk and program requirements for the specific cancer screening service.
What to do
Start here: Contact the Cancer Services Program serving your county and ask for an eligibility screening and appointment location.
Eligibility: Eligibility varies by cancer type and includes insurance status plus screening age/risk criteria; local contractors determine current eligibility.
What you get
Local Cancer Services Program contractors arrange qualifying breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening and diagnostic services at no cost to eligible participants.
Benefit: Free qualifying screening and diagnostic services; programs can also help eligible people navigate treatment coverage after a diagnosis.
Possible value: From hundreds of dollars for routine screening to much more when follow-up diagnostic testing is needed.
Good to know
Important: This is primarily a screening and diagnostic program. A cancer diagnosis can trigger help connecting to treatment coverage, but the program should not be described as free cancer treatment for everyone.
Availability: Active through local Cancer Services Program contractors.
Why people miss it: People without insurance may skip screening because they assume testing requires a primary-care visit or insurance card, while the state has a dedicated screening network.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026