TWO NEW STATE LAWS REQUIRE HEALTH INSURERS TO COVER MORE CANCER SCREENINGS. 

THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ESTIMATES THAT MORE THAN 48 THOUSAND PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL DIE OF PANCREATIC CANCER THIS YEAR. SENATOR ADRIANE JOHNSON OF BUFFALO GROVE SPONSORED ONE LAW THAT MANDATES COVERAGE OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY SCREENINGS FOR THE DISEASE.

JOHNSON ALSO SPONSORED THE SECOND LAW, REQUIRING COVERAGE OF COLONOSCOPIES WHEN RECOMMENDED BY A DOCTOR AND AT NO COST TO THE PATIENT. BOTH LAWS TAKE EFFECT IN JANUARY.

ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, COLORECTAL CANCER IS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER-RELATED DEATH, BUT IF CAUGHT EARLY HAS A 90 PERCENT SURVIVAL RATE. THE SECOND NEW LAW REQUIRES COVERAGE OF SCREENINGS FOR PANCREATIC CANCER. THE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT IN JANUARY.