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Older Women and Pap Tests

Information about free or low cost tests

From

Updated July 24, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Older and medically underserved women can get free or low-cost Pap tests.

  • Older women should have a Pap test at least once every three years.
  • As of January 1998, Medicare covers Pap tests once every 3 years for all Medicare beneficiaries. For more information about Medicare coverage for cervical cancer screening examinations, please call the Medicare toll-free hotline at 1-800-638-6833.
  • Women and health care providers can call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1-800-4-CANCER to find out the latest, most accurate information about cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening. The CIS also provides referrals for free and low-cost cervical cancer screening through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP), which targets medically underserved, low-income women, particularly members of racial and ethnic minorities.

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