Indiana
Requires Coverage of Comprehensive Biomarker Testing
Yes
Highlighted Disparity
Cancer data are not available for Indiana due to the impact of COVID-19 on cancer surveillance in 2021
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases in Indiana is 67.2 and significantly higher than the national rate of 52.8.
- It ranks 46th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases in Indiana did not change significantly.
- In 2022, the most recent year of data available for this report, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt access to medical care, including delays and reductions in cancer diagnoses and screening. This led to a decline in incidence rates for most cancers, including lung cancer, and should not be interpreted as a reduction in the underlying cancer burden.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) is 29.7% nationally. Indiana is one of the 12 states for which survival data is not available as they do not track cases after diagnosis.
Early Diagnosis:
- In Indiana, 26.8% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 28.1%.
- It ranks 39th among the 50 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in Indiana did not change significantly.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Biomarker Coverage:
- Indiana was one of the 17 states that required insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing, including for lung cancer, as of August 2025.
Surgical Treatment:
- Indiana ranked 37th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 16.9% of cases undergoing surgery as part of the first course of treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 20.7% and puts Indiana in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Indiana did not change significantly.
No Treatment:
- Indiana ranked 17th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 18.7% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 21.0% and puts Indiana in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Indiana did not change significantly.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Indiana, 19.4% of those at high risk were screened, which was not significantly different than the national rate of 18.2%.
- It ranks 18th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The 2023 smoking rate in Indiana is 14.5% and significantly higher than the national rate of 11.4%.
- It ranks 39th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Radon Exposure:
- In Indiana, 40.2% of radon test results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 40th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 65.9 per 100,000 population among Black individuals in Indiana, significantly higher than the rate of 54.2 among Black individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 69.4 among white individuals in Indiana.
- Survival rates by race and ethnicity are not available for Indiana at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Black individuals is 27.1%, 9% lower than among white Americans.
- 23.7% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Black individuals in Indiana, not significantly different than the rate of 25.1% among Black individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 27.1% among white individuals in Indiana.
- Lung cancer rates are not available for Indiana due to the impact of COVID-19 on cancer surveillance in 2021."
Latino individuals:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 26.0 per 100,000 population among Latino individuals in Indiana, not significantly different than the rate of 27.9 among Latino individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 69.4 among white individuals in Indiana.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Latino individuals at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Latino individuals is 22.7%, not significantly different than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- 25.9% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Latino individuals in Indiana, not significantly different than the rate of 23.9% among Latino individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 27.1% among white individuals in Indiana.
- Lung cancer rates are not available for Indiana due to the impact of COVID-19 on cancer surveillance in 2021.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 31.1 per 100,000 population among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals in Indiana, not significantly different than the rate of 32.5 among Asian or Pacific Islanders individuals nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 69.4 among white individuals in Indiana.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Asian or Pacific Islander individuals at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals is 28.6% and significantly higher than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- 21.3% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals in Indiana, not significantly different than the rate of 23.7% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 27.1% among white individuals in Indiana.
- 21.3% of Asian or Pacific Islander individuals with lung cancer in Indiana underwent surgery, not significantly different than the rate of 24.7% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 17.1% among white individuals in Indiana.
- 15.6% of Asian or Pacific Islander individuals with lung cancer in Indiana did not receive any treatment, not significantly different than the rate of 19.8% among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 18.8% among white individuals in Indiana.
- Lung cancer rates are not available for Indiana due to the impact of COVID-19 on cancer surveillance in 2021.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 26.4 per 100,000 population among Indigenous peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Indiana, significantly lower than the rate of 39.8 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 69.4 among white individuals in Indiana.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Indigenous Peoples is 22.3% and not significantly different than the rate of 25.0% among white individuals.
- Lung cancer rates are not available for Indiana due to the impact of COVID-19 on cancer surveillance in 2021.
Summary
The early diagnosis rate in Indiana falls into the below average tier. The state still has a lot of work to do to make sure that more of those at high risk for lung cancer are screened.
Indiana was one of the states that required insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing, which can help determine what treatment options would be best for individuals with lung cancer and other diseases.
Indiana falls into the above average tier for percent of patients receiving no treatment. Some patients do refuse treatment, but issues such as fatalism and stigma can prevent eligible patients from accessing treatment that may save or extend their lives. All patients should work with their doctors to establish a treatment plan and goals.
Page last updated: October 1, 2025