The HumanaDental Insurance Company, a division of the Louisville, Ky.-based insurer, plans to begin screening for oral cancer to some members as part of its coverage.
The company said it's taking the step because of the prevalence of oral cancer, which claims almost 10,000 lives yearly.
HumanaDental said it will provide the screening to members who are older than 40 and enrolled in its fully insured dental plan.
"Because early detection is the key to fighting this disease, we're pleased to offer this coverage as part of our commitment to promoting oral health, which is directly linked to overall health," said Mark Matzke, COO for the dental plan.
The screening procedure uses VizLite Plus, a product of Zila Pharmaceuticals, after a conventional visual screening to help dentists detect oral cancer in its early stages as well as precancerous tissue. The patient rinses with a special solution, after which the dentist examines the mouth with a disposable light stick. Abnormal tissue appears bright white, and the dentist marks it with a temporary dye.
HumanaDental is one of the nation's 10 largest dental insurers, and its network includes about 106,000 dentist locations.