Few smokers seek CT scans to check for lung cancer Screening rates have barely budged in recent years Check out this story on thecalifornian.com: http://bit.ly/2lgSjYA In 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended annual low-dose CT scans for many current or former smokers between the ages of 55 and 80. Under the health law, health plans have to cover preventive services recommended by the task force without charging consumers for them. Lung cancer screening rates have barely budged in recent years, according to a new study, even though under the health law many people don’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket for them because the test is recommended by a panel of prevention experts.