Colon screening is so important in managing your health, as colon cancer often presents no symptoms early on when it’s easiest to treat. Starting at age 50, you may qualify for a free FIT test, which is an at-home colon cancer screening kit. This screening is available for those who are uninsured or underinsured and meet the following criteria. Who is this free colon screening for:
- Those who can not get this service free through their health insurance product, including those who are legally ineligible for health insurance.
- Must be between 50-64 years of age.
- Have no colon cancer symptoms (such as rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, chronic diarrhea/constipation, unexplained weight loss or lower abdominal pain)
- Have never been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or Ulcerative Colitis
- Member must meet income guidelines below:
How much does it cost:
- Free to those who qualify.
What does it provide:
- Free FIT stool kit. If the stool kit results are positive for blood in the stool, you will then receive a free colonoscopy.
Examples of Colon Program (CDC) Savings The following are sample price ranges for office visits, colonoscopies, sigmoidoscopies, anesthesia, and pathology. These are estimates only. Specific pricing depends on the complexities of each individual procedure.
| Description of Services | Cost without insurance or discount | Cost as CDC patient |
| FIT Test | $57 | $0 |
| Office visits | $88 - $253 | $0 |
| Colonoscopy - Facility | $1,217 - $4,200 | $0 |
| Colonoscopy - Doctor | $790 - $3,100 | $0 |
| Sigmoidoscopy - Facility | $200 - $1,364 | $0 |
| Sigmoidoscopy – Doctor | $218 - $1,571 | $0 |
| Anesthesia | Starts at $250 | $0 |
| Pathology | Average $1,060 (depends on amount of slides- can go upwards to $5,300+) | $0 |
Total Cost Range for Colonoscopy: $1,816-$8,863 Total Cost to CDC Program Patient: $0