Type of cancer	Description of Medicare coverage
Breast	Annual screening mammography for women older than age 40
Cervix	Pap testing and pelvic examination at three-year intervals. Yearly screening is allowed for women who are at a high risk of cervical or vaginal cancer or who have had an abnormal Pap smear in the preceding three years.
Colorectal	For individuals older than 50 years, screening fecal occult blood testing is reimbursed by Medicare one time per year and flexible sigmoidoscopy is reimbursed once every four years or once every two years if the patient is at high risk. Colonoscopy is reimbursed every two years if the patient is at high risk for colon cancer (no age limit). Barium enema is reimbursed as a substitute for sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy if the primary care physician deems it advisable.
Prostate	Annual digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen test in men older than 50 years