Show Me Healthy Women

The Show Me Healthy Women (SMHW) program offers free breast and cervical cancer screenings for Missouri women who meet age, income and insurance guidelines. 

The SMHW program began in 1992, and is Missouri’s implementation of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). 

SMHW is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several national, regional and local partner organizations. There are provider locations throughout the state, including local public health agencies, federally qualified health centers, hospitals, private physician offices and not for profit health centers. 

As a woman, you may qualify for free breast and cervical cancer screenings, just as thousands of women have already done. Missouri's Show Me Healthy Women (SMHW) program provides these cancer screenings free to program eligible women based on age, income and insurance status.

Eligibility Guidelines

• Age 21 to 64, or older if they do not receive Medicare Part B, and
• Income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level for household income, and
• No insurance to cover program services or unable to pay insurance deductible/co-payment

Age Guidelines

Women Age 21-29

• Eligible for clinical breast exam (CBE), pelvic exam annually or with Pap testing schedule, Pap test every 3 years, and diagnostic follow-up for abnormal results.
• Eligible for further breast cancer screening services if identified as having at least one high-risk factor:
  • BRCA mutation,
  • A first degree relative who is a BRCA carrier (biological parent, full sibling, and biological child), or
  • A calculated lifetime risk of 20% or greater of developing breast cancer.

Women Age 30-39

• Eligible for clinical breast exam (CBE), pelvic exam annually or with Pap testing schedule, Pap test every 3 years or combination Pap test with human papillomavirus (HPV) test every 5 years, and diagnostic follow-up for abnormal results.
• Eligible for further breast cancer screening services if identified as having at least one high-risk factor:
  • BRCA mutation,
  • A first degree relative who is a BRCA carrier (biological parent, full sibling, and biological child), or
  • A calculated lifetime risk of 20% or greater of developing breast cancer.

Women Age 40-49

• Eligible for clinical breast exam (CBE), screening mammogram every 1 to 2 years per clinician discretion, pelvic exam annually or with Pap testing schedule, Pap test every 3 years or combination Pap test with human papillomavirus (HPV) test every 5 years, and diagnostic follow-up for abnormal results.

Women Age 50-64

• Eligible for clinical breast exam (CBE), screening mammogram every 1 to 2 years, pelvic exam annually or with Pap testing schedule, Pap test every 3 years or combination Pap test with human papillomavirus (HPV) test every 5 years, and diagnostic follow-up for abnormal results.

Women Over Age 64

• Women over the age of 64 who do not have Medicare Part B may also receive services through the program.

Cervical Cancer Screenings After Hysterectomy

• Hysterectomy due to cervical cancer or dysplasia are eligible pelvic exam and Pap test.
• Hysterectomy due to any reason other than cervical cancer or dysplasia are eligible for one Pap test and pelvic exam to determine the absence or presence of the cervix.
• Hysterectomy due to conditions other than cervical cancer or dysplasia and the cervix is known to be absent is not eligible for cervical cancer screening but may receive breast cancer screenings through the SMHW program.

Income Guidelines

Income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level for household income are eligible to receive free breast and cervical cancer screenings.

Insurance Guidelines

• Uninsured (No insurance to cover program services), or
• Underinsured (Unable to pay insurance deductible or co-payment), or
• If older than 64 years, not enrolled in Medicare Part B.
• Women with MO HealthNet, Medicare Part B or HMO health coverage are not eligible to receive services through the SMHW program.

Enrollment

Locate a provider near you using our provider list or call toll-free 866-726-9926.