How Often Will Medicare Pay for Colon Cancer Screening?

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You say that Medicare will cover colonoscopies at no cost to the patient as of January 2011.

Q. You say that Medicare will cover colonoscopies at no cost to the patient as of January 2011. However, it is not clear whether the 120-month limitation for a repeat asymptomatic colonoscopy will remain, or whether (as many physicians advise) a colonoscopy will be covered after only seven or eight years since the prior one. Also, you speak of the recommendation for colonscopies for people between 50 and 75. Does the coverage not apply for those over 75? — Warren S. Poland, M.D.
A. Starting in January, Medicare will cover screening tests for colorectal cancer at no charge to the beneficiary, including colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and fecal occult blood tests.

The Medicare program is not changing the frequency with which it covers these tests, according to Donald McLeod, a spokesman for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That means that a screening colonoscopy generally will be covered once every 10 years. It will be covered once every two years if the patient has had colorectal cancer, has a family history of the disease or is at high risk for some other reason.

A flexible sigmoidoscopy will be covered once every four years to screen for cancer, and a fecal occult blood test will be covered annually. Medicare will continue to cover colonoscopies for beneficiaries over age 75, according to Mr. McLeod.

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