Congress Urged to Require Insurers to Cover Colonoscopies

Thousands of cancer patients and their families journeyed to Washington, DC, to urge Congress to require insurance companies to cover the cost of colonoscopies to screen for colorectal cancer.

Insurance companies generally cover tests that are less expensive but also less thorough than colonoscopies, such as fecal occult blood tests and flexible sigmoidoscopies. Medicare covers colonoscopies as a screening tool for people 65 and older.

A colonoscopy costs about $700 to $1,000, compared to about $30 for a fecal occult blood test and $200 for a flexible sigmoidoscopy

A Senate committee has approved a bill that would require insurers to let doctors decide whether colonoscopies are necessary for people aged 50 to 64 and those at increased risk of the disease.

Sen. Bill Frist, R-TN, a physician, has led opposition to the bill, contending that Congress should not be cautious about requiring that insurance companies cover screening tests.

Other Sources: Washington Post