Background: Lung cancer survivors have a high risk for recurrence and second cancers and a 5-year survival of only 50%. Imaging surveillance for early cancer detection in this group is recommended for life. We measured the rates and determinants of regular surveillance imaging in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivors. Methods: Using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database, we identified 10680 patients with stage I and II NSCLC, age ≥ 66 years diagnosed from 2001-2011 and treated with surgery. Patients were censored at the time of recurrence/second cancer, loss of insurance or 3 months before death. Receipt of a CT and/or PET scan during the surveillance periods of 7 to 18, 19 to 30, 31 to 42 and 43 to 60 months from the date of surgery was assessed. Percentage of patients’ receiving regular imaging up to 18, 30 and 60 months of follow-up was determined. Adjusted cox regression was used to measure the effect of receiving recommended imaging on survival. Results: Overall, 79% and 40% survivors had follow-up information till the end of 30-month and 60-month surveillance periods respectively. Forty nine percent survivors were male and 86% were white. With a median follow-up of 7.6 years, 71% of the survivors received imaging in the first 18 months after surgery, but only 56% and 44% of survivors continued to receive regular imaging by 30-month and 60-month of follow-up periods respectively. Survivors were less likely to receive imaging if they were older (≥80 years), black, not married, had rural residence, did not receive adjuvant therapy, had stage I disease (compared to stage II) and were diagnosed in 2006 or earlier. In adjusted analysis, survivors receiving recommended imaging up to 18 months from surgery had improved survival compared to survivors who did not (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.81-0.92). Survival benefit was also observed in survivors who had regular imaging up to 5 years from surgery (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.60-0.76). Conclusions: More than half the lung cancer survivors did not receive recommended long-term surveillance imaging especially if older, black or with rural residence. Adherence to regular surveillance even at 5 years from initial surgery is associated with improved survival.