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.
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
- Those over the age of 64 who do not have Medicare Part B may also receive services through the program.
*Women with MO HealthNet, Medicare Part B or HMO health coverage are not eligible for SMHW.
Cervical Cancer Screenings for Women who have had a 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.