Some Important Facts You Should Know about Colorectal Cancer!
Covered Medicare Service | How Often Covered and What You Pay | Description of the Screening Test |
---|---|---|
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) or Stool Test | Covered once per year. You pay no coinsurance and no Part B deductible. | A test you do at home using a test kit you get from your health care provider. You put stool samples on test cards, then return the cards to the doctor or a lab. This test checks for occult (hidden) blood in the stool. |
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (Flex Sig) | Covered once every 4 years. You pay 20 percent of the Medicare approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. | A test in which the doctor puts a short, thin, flexible, lighted tube into your rectum. The doctor checks for polyps or cancer in the rectum and lower third of the colon. Sometimes a flexible sigmoidoscopy is used in combination with a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT). |
Colonoscopy | High Risk Individuals - If you are at high risk for colorectal cancer, Medicare covers a colonoscopy or a barium enema every 2 years. You pay 20 percent of the Medicare approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. (Your risk for colorectal cancer may be higher than average if you or a close relative had colorectal polyps or cancer, or if you have inflammatory bowel disease.)
Average Risk Individuals - If you are at average risk (i.e., not at high risk) for colorectal cancer, Medicare will cover a colonoscopy every 10 years. You pay 20 percent of the Medicare approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. However, if you are at average risk and have had a covered flexible sigmoidoscopy, you must wait 4 years to be eligible for Medicare coverage of a colonoscopy. |
This test is similar to a flexible sigmoidoscopy, except the doctor uses a longer, thin, flexible, lighted tube to check for polyps or cancer in the rectum and the entire colon. During the test, the doctor can find and remove most polyps and some cancers. |
Barium Enema | This test can substitute for a flexible sigmoidoscopy or for a colonoscopy. You pay 20 percent of the Medicare approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. | A test in which you are given an enema with a liquid called barium. The doctor takes x-rays of your colon. The barium allows the doctor to see the outline of your colon, to check for polyps or other abnormalities. |
Steps You Can Take Now To Protect Your Health
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