Newly-approved at-home cervical cancer screening kits aim to save lives

By HPN Staff

In what could be a game changer in women’s health care, the Health Resources and Services Administration recently announced updated cervical cancer screening guidelines that expand insurance coverage to include at-home screening. This comes after the FDA approved at-home tests in May 2025. Under the new guidelines, insurance providers will be required to cover the test kits beginning in January 2027. 

The approved at-home test is offered by Teal Health. With insurance coverage, the test costs $99 and offers accuracy comparable to an in-office Pap smear. The test is administered using what the company calls the “Teal Wand,” a device that resembles a tampon applicator.

The test is a “Primary HPV’ screen that claims to detect 96% of precancerous conditions, which is responsible for more than 90% of cervical cancers. HPV — or human papillomavirus — has both low- and high-risk strains. Samples taken through the at-home kits are tested for 14 strains of the virus.

Why it matters

Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth-most common cancer in women. In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 12,960 new cases of cervical cancer, and 4,162 cervical cancer deaths in 2023.  

Regular and early cervical cancer screenings significantly increase a woman’s chance of survival by catching precancers or early stage cancer that can be treated. Over 90% of women who are diagnosed at an early stage live 5 or more years longer than those diagnosed at an advanced stage.

However, 1 in 5 adult women are not up to date with their cervical cancer screening, and more than half prefer at an at home screening option to a doctor’s office. By covering at-home test kits through insurance, these new options allow women to manage their health in the comfort of their own homes. The expectation is that expanding access will increase screening rates and lead to earlier detection, ultimately saving lives. 

The bigger picture

January is cervical cancer awareness month. The American Cancer Society recommends women between the ages of 25 and 65 should get screened every three to five years. 

Further, cervical cancer mortality is 45% higher in rural areas than urban areas due to a lack of access to resources and a longer travel time to care. Congress included the single largest investment in rural healthcare since 2003 in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July 2025. These at-home tests will expand on this investment and continue to provide more access to healthcare in rural areas.