3 ms·

> not eligible for screening Is this a thing? I thought I could walk into my PCP's office and schedule a screening any time, provided I may need to pay more ou

> not eligible for screening Is this a thing? I thought I could walk into my PCP's office and schedule a screening any time, provided I may need to pay more out of pocket or something.

BobbyTables2 1y ago
PCP is certainly not going to be the one doing the colonoscopy. maybe they’d do the stool sample or some silly blood test if you are extremely insistent and can somehow demonstrate a risk factor. I’ve dealt with a few PCPs and they seem less informed about their own area than a 30 sec google search. They’re basically L6 tech support…
- exhilaration 1y ago
  I read here (on Hacker News) that the stool test is actually really valuable and cheap enough to pay out of pocket prior to trying to justify an out-of-schedule colonoscopy.
  - OptionOfT 1y ago
    Not to mention the prepare for a colonoscopy is not pleasant.
    - SoftTalker 1y ago
      And colonoscopies are invasive procedures that have their own risks. Perforated bowel can turn this "routine" procedure into an emergency.
  - yen223 1y ago
    Gentle reminder for Australian folks here, you can get a bowel screening test kit for free, if you're between 45 - 74 years of age. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-screening-program/doing-a-bowel-screening-test/who-should-do-the-bowel-screening-test https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-scr...
  - dzhiurgis 1y ago
    Is it at home ones or ones that you send sample to get sequenced?
TimorousBestie 1y ago
Colonoscopies here (midwestern US) are upwards of a couple thousand outside of the usual schedules enforced by insurance companies. If there’s a complication they can easily skyrocket into the tens of thousands. Most people around here can’t soak that.
adwi 1y ago
Grandfather died of colon cancer at 43. Went into my PCP at 40 asking for a colonoscopy, he said insurance wouldn’t cover it until I was 50. …
- giardini 1y ago
  Ask him to do a hemoccult (done in the office - doc sticks his finger up your a** and dabs it on a test material) or request a cologuard test (shit in a box at home and mail it to the lab! - loads of laughs driving cautiously to FEDEX!) The hemoccult (FIT or FOBT) tests are <$100 and the cologuard ~$700. Your insurance will likely cover (esp. the hemoccult test) all the more if you tell doctor of your family background. Hemoccult tests were part of my routine annual physical for decades and there are no familial tendencies. There are some caveats: e.g., avoid bloody foods in the days preceding these test (Chinese pigs' blood cubes, yummm!)
- gosub100 1y ago
  You shouldn't have to do this, but have you tried calling the colonoscopy practice and asking for a cash price? It might not be as expensive as you think.
SoftTalker 1y ago
Screenings are not risk-free. There are always some false positives which then may lead to more invasive and unnecessary tests or treatment. There are a lot of rare conditions (based on age and/or history) that we don't screen for on a routine basis.

> not eligible for screening Is this a thing? I thought I could walk into my PCP's office and schedule a screening any time, provided I may need to pay more out of pocket or something.

BobbyTables2 1y ago

PCP is certainly not going to be the one doing the colonoscopy. maybe they’d do the stool sample or some silly blood test if you are extremely insistent and can somehow demonstrate a risk factor. I’ve dealt with a few PCPs and they seem less informed about their own area than a 30 sec google search. They’re basically L6 tech support…

exhilaration 1y ago
I read here (on Hacker News) that the stool test is actually really valuable and cheap enough to pay out of pocket prior to trying to justify an out-of-schedule colonoscopy.
- OptionOfT 1y ago
  Not to mention the prepare for a colonoscopy is not pleasant.
  - SoftTalker 1y ago
    And colonoscopies are invasive procedures that have their own risks. Perforated bowel can turn this "routine" procedure into an emergency.
- yen223 1y ago
  Gentle reminder for Australian folks here, you can get a bowel screening test kit for free, if you're between 45 - 74 years of age. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-screening-program/doing-a-bowel-screening-test/who-should-do-the-bowel-screening-test https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-scr...
- dzhiurgis 1y ago
  Is it at home ones or ones that you send sample to get sequenced?

TimorousBestie 1y ago

Colonoscopies here (midwestern US) are upwards of a couple thousand outside of the usual schedules enforced by insurance companies. If there’s a complication they can easily skyrocket into the tens of thousands. Most people around here can’t soak that.

adwi 1y ago

Grandfather died of colon cancer at 43. Went into my PCP at 40 asking for a colonoscopy, he said insurance wouldn’t cover it until I was 50. …

giardini 1y ago
Ask him to do a hemoccult (done in the office - doc sticks his finger up your a** and dabs it on a test material) or request a cologuard test (shit in a box at home and mail it to the lab! - loads of laughs driving cautiously to FEDEX!) The hemoccult (FIT or FOBT) tests are <$100 and the cologuard ~$700. Your insurance will likely cover (esp. the hemoccult test) all the more if you tell doctor of your family background. Hemoccult tests were part of my routine annual physical for decades and there are no familial tendencies. There are some caveats: e.g., avoid bloody foods in the days preceding these test (Chinese pigs' blood cubes, yummm!)
gosub100 1y ago
You shouldn't have to do this, but have you tried calling the colonoscopy practice and asking for a cash price? It might not be as expensive as you think.

SoftTalker 1y ago

Screenings are not risk-free. There are always some false positives which then may lead to more invasive and unnecessary tests or treatment. There are a lot of rare conditions (based on age and/or history) that we don't screen for on a routine basis.