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NBCCEDP

Free pap smears by state: NBCCEDP

National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (cervical)

The same CDC NBCCEDP that pays for mammograms covers the cervical-cancer screening pathway (Pap tests, HPV co-testing, colposcopy, LEEP, and cone biopsy) for uninsured women 21-64. If screening finds cancer, the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act (BCCPTA) opens a Medicaid treatment eligibility category in every state.

State program names vary: Minnesota runs Sage, New York runs the Cancer Services Program, Florida runs BCCEDP, Louisiana runs LBCHP through LSU Health Sciences Center. Phone and application pathway differ state to state.

Why this matters for Black families

Black women die from cervical cancer at roughly twice the rate of white women (CDC WONDER, 2020-2022 three-year average), a disease that is nearly fully preventable with screening and HPV vaccination.

Cervical cancer is nearly fully preventable with HPV vaccination (routine for ages 9-26, catch-up allowed through 45) plus regular Pap and HPV co-testing. The 2× mortality gap for Black women tracks to lower HPV vaccination uptake, later presentation at diagnosis, and lower treatment-completion rates. In-office cervical-cancer screening (including HPV self-collection, now FDA-approved) is covered under NBCCEDP pathways in every state.

Who qualifies (federal baseline)

Federal NBCCEDP eligibility (state programs may expand):

  • Age: 21-64 (breast); 21-64 (cervical)
  • Income: up to 250% of the federal poverty level (states may raise this: California and several others use 200% FPL as the cutoff)
  • Insurance status: uninsured, or insured with a deductible/copay that makes screening unaffordable
  • Documentation: most states accept a simple intake screening form; no extensive income documentation is required for initial enrollment
  • Citizenship: NBCCEDP serves women regardless of immigration status in most states

State variations: California, Washington, and several others cover screening at up to 200% FPL; Massachusetts covers at up to 300% FPL. State phone lines and enrollment forms differ. Always check the state's program page before assuming federal defaults apply.

The three federal eligibility gates

Federal eligibility gates for this screening Three conditions: age within 21-64, household income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level, and being uninsured or under-insured. Meeting all three means you likely qualify through NBCCEDP. AGE Ages 21-64 Household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level INSURANCE Uninsured or under-insured If all three are true, you likely qualify Free pap smear through NBCCEDP
This is the federal baseline. Your state program may set different age or income limits. Check your state below for the exact rules.

All 50 states & DC

Alabama

Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (ABCCEDP)

877-252-3324

Alaska

Alaska Breast and Cervical Health Check

800-410-6266

Arizona

Well Woman HealthCheck Program

Arkansas

BreastCare (Arkansas Department of Health)

833-693-2942

California

Every Woman Counts (EWC)

800-511-2300

Colorado

Women's Wellness Connection (WWC)

Connecticut

Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (CBCCEDP)

860-509-7804

Delaware

Screening for Life

302-744-1040

Florida

Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

850-245-4144

Georgia

Georgia Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP)

Hawaii

Hawaii Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP)

808-692-7480

Idaho

Women's Health Check

208-334-5805

Illinois

Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP)

888-522-1282

Indiana

Indiana Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IN-BCCP)

Iowa

Care for Yourself

866-339-7909

Kansas

Early Detection Works (EDW)

877-277-1368

Kentucky

Kentucky Women's Cancer Screening Program (KWCSP)

844-249-0708

Louisiana

Louisiana Breast & Cervical Health Program (LBCHP)

888-599-1073

Maine

Maine CDC Breast and Cervical Health Program (MBCHP)

800-350-5180

Maryland

No CDC grantee, see alternatives

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (MBCCP)

877-414-4447

Michigan

Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP)

844-446-8727

Minnesota

Sage Cancer Screening Program

888-643-2584

Mississippi

Mississippi Breast and Cervical Cancer Program

800-721-7222

Missouri

Show Me Healthy Women (SMHW)

866-726-9926

Montana

Montana Cancer Screening Program

888-803-9343

Nebraska

Every Woman Matters (EWM)

800-532-2227

Nevada

Women's Health Connection (WHC)

877-385-2345

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Breast and Cervical Cancer Program

603-271-4931

New Jersey

New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED)

800-328-3838

New Mexico

New Mexico Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

833-796-8773

New York

Cancer Services Program (CSP)

866-442-2262

North Carolina

NC Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (NC BCCCP)

North Dakota

Women's Way

800-449-6636

Ohio

Ohio Breast & Cervical Cancer Project (BCCP)

844-430-2227

Oklahoma

Take Charge

888-669-5934

Oregon

Oregon ScreenWise Program

971-673-0581

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (PA-BCCEDP)

800-215-7494

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program

401-222-4324

South Carolina

Best Chance Network

800-450-4611

South Dakota

All Women Count!

800-738-2301

Tennessee

Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program

877-969-6636

Texas

Breast and Cervical Cancer Services (BCCS)

512-776-7796

Utah

Utah Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Program

800-717-1811

Vermont

You First (formerly Ladies First)

800-508-2222

Virginia

Every Woman's Life (EWL)

866-395-4968

Washington

Breast, Cervical and Colon Health Program (BCCHP)

888-438-2247

West Virginia

WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (WVBCCSP)

800-642-8522

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Well Woman Program

800-642-7837

Wyoming

Wyoming Cancer Program

800-264-1296

District of Columbia

WISH Cancer Screening Program

202-442-5900

Data sources

Data refreshed: