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What is the difference between a regular colonoscopy and a diagnostic colonoscopy?

Doctors perform regular colonoscopies on asymptomatic patients age 45 or older with no history of colorectal issues. These occur every ten years as a screening examination to ensure you have no problems. You may have more frequent screenings if your doctor believes your risk has increased. If you have a higher risk or are showing symptoms of colon problems, your doctor may perform a diagnostic colonoscopy.

Your insurance coverage may be different based on a screening vs. diagnostic colonoscopy. You should check with your insurance carrier to confirm the level of your benefit coverage.

 

What is a diagnostic colonoscopy?

How long does a diagnostic colonoscopy take?

Are you asleep during a colonoscopy?

How do you feel after a diagnostic colonoscopy?

How long after a colonoscopy can you eat and drink again?

Do you get results immediately after the colonoscopy?

Why would you need a diagnostic colonoscopy?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.