Insurance plans are varied. The best source is your insurance carrier. Please call your insurance company to verify your benefits and coverage.

There are two types of Colonoscopy:

1. Diagnostic -performed based on acute symptoms
2. Preventive (Screening)- performed for screening purposes, patients with no acute symptoms.

When contacting your insurance company(ies), ask which type of colonoscopy is covered under your plan: benefits may vary. In addition, insurance companies have guidelines that must be met and may define “screening” or preventive differently. The reason (diagnosis) for your colonoscopy may determine the coverage.

Most insurance companies only cover Preventive Services as follows:

High Risk patients are those with one or more of the following characteristics:

• Close family member (parent, sibling, or child) diagnosed with colorectal cancer
• Family History of close family member with adenomatous colon polyps
• Family History of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer
• Personal History of colon polyps
• Personal History of colorectal cancer
• Personal History of IBS, Crohn’s Colitis, or Ulcerative Colitis

Colonoscopy – once every 24 months if you are at high risk for CA of the colon
Low Risk Colonoscopy – once every 10 years after the age of 50