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Colon (colorectal) Cancer Screening

What it is:

Cancer of the colon or rectum is called colorectal cancer.

Tests that look for blood in the stool or that look inside the colon or rectum can find these cancers. Medicare covers four different kinds of tests that can screen for colorectal cancer: Fecal Occult Blood Test, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, Colonoscopy, and Barium Enema.

Why screening is important:

This cancer is more common in people over 50, and the risk increases with age. In the United States, it is the fourth most common cancer in men and women.

These tests help find growths in the colon (pre-cancerous polyps) so your doctor can remove them before they turn into cancer. Treatment works best when colorectal cancer is found early.

Who is covered:

People age 50 or older are covered for this screening.

How often it’s covered:

How often your colorectal cancer screening is covered depends on the type of test being used and whether you are considered to be at higher risk of developing this type of cancer.

• Fecal Occult Blood Tests are covered once every 12 months.
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy is covered once every 48 months.
• If you are at high risk, a Screening Colonoscopy is covered once every 24 months. If you are not at high risk, it is covered once every 120 months (10 years), but not within 48 months of a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy.
• If you are at high risk, a Barium Enema is covered once every 24 months when used instead of a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. It is covered once every 48 months, if you are not at high risk

Ask your doctor how to get this screening.

What you pay:

What you pay for your colorectal cancer screening depends on the type of test being used.

• You pay nothing for the Fecal Occult Blood Test
• For all other tests, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved cost for the service — after you meet your Part B annual deductible ($135 in 2008). However, if Flexible Sigmoidoscopy or Colonoscopy are done in a hospital outpatient department, you pay 25% of the Medicare-approved cost for the service — after you meet your Part B annual deductible.

Learn more about colorectal cancer screening on Medicare.gov.