UnitedHealthcare expands cancer detection benefits for eligible commercial members

Encouraging cancer screenings across the workforce can be a proactive step toward supporting employees’ overall well-being. With the prevalence of certain types of cancer continuing to grow, including among younger demographics, early detection can often be a crucial step of the journey — as it can significantly improve treatment outcomes and survival rates. 

Since the mid-2000s, the number of women with breast cancer diagnoses has been steadily rising.¹ In fact, breast cancer is now the most common type of cancer in the U.S.²

By comparison, colon cancer diagnoses have increased in people aged 18-50 by 15% since 2004. In the same age group, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women.³

Many employers have seen this firsthand. In fact, 7 in 10 employers surveyed reported a growing prevalence of cancer among employees and their dependents.⁴

That’s why UnitedHealthcare is expanding cancer detection benefits for eligible commercial members starting on Jan. 1, 2026, to help support early detection and diagnosis, no matter at what age the procedure is recommended by a network provider.

Certain UnitedHealthcare fully insured health plans will have expanded benefits that go beyond standard preventive care to cover the costs of the first diagnostic breast imaging and the first diagnostic colorectal cancer detection service at no cost to the member.*

The new cancer detection benefit is part of UnitedHealthcare’s efforts to close gaps in care and improve the consumer experience in health care. Since 2021, UnitedHealth Group has closed 575 million gaps in care.

Current guidance from the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends preventive colorectal cancer screenings for adults age 45-75 and biennial screening mammography for women age 40-75.⁵

Often these preventive cancer screenings, such as routine mammograms or colonoscopies, are performed when there are no symptoms present and are designed to catch cancer early or even before it develops, based on average risk factors. Typically, preventive screenings are covered by health insurance plans.

In contrast, diagnostic services are often used when symptoms are present, a person has greater risk or a preventive screening reveals something abnormal, helping to confirm or rule out a diagnosis.⁶ Diagnostic services may come with out-of-pocket costs for the member.

Sometimes routine preventive screenings result in providers ordering follow-up services and tests. These might be more targeted, invasive or detailed tests compared to the initial preventive screening — such as a biopsy or advanced imaging, like an MRI.

By eliminating this sometimes-significant cost, UnitedHealthcare is working to remove barriers to care and help encourage quicker follow-up screenings or an earlier diagnosis.

This, in turn, can lead to better outcomes, cost savings for employees and their employers and ultimately, a healthier workforce.