Overview
- Statutory insurers began covering an annual low‑dose CT on Wednesday for people aged 50 to 75 who smoked for at least 25 years and reached 15 pack‑years, with former smokers eligible only if they quit less than 10 years ago.
- The program is voluntary and starts with a talk with a family doctor, who checks eligibility and issues a referral, and choosing not to take part does not affect later treatment coverage.
- Access is limited at launch as radiologists and primary‑care doctors complete required training and approvals, though some centers such as Charité and Helios hospitals have already piloted or opened appointments.
- Studies cited by regulators and cancer experts show fewer deaths when high‑risk groups are screened, but participants should expect some false alarms, occasional overdiagnosis, and a small radiation risk from yearly scans.
- About 5 to 5.5 million people meet the criteria, and experts put annual costs near €120 million, with health agencies stressing that quitting smoking reduces risk far more than any screening.