Appointments : (855) 346 5152
Frequently Asked Questions
General
ColonoscopyAssist provides affordable and accessible gastroenterology
procedures for underinsured and self-pay individuals. The program allows you to choose a nearby provider and easily schedule a colonoscopy or endoscopy at a significantly reduced cost.
The following services are provided at affordable pre-negotiated rates:
1. Colonoscopy (screening or diagnostic)
2. Upper Endoscopy
3. Hemorroid Banding
4. Cologuard
5. FIT
You must meet one simple criteria to be able to schedule with ColonoscopyAssist:
- You must be paying for your procedure out-of-pocket.
That’s it! There are no income, residency or immigration restrictions at this time.
ColonoscopyAssist was designed as an assistance program to help the uninsured and is the reason we exist.
ColonoscopyAssist accepts payments via the following methods:
- Debit Card
- Credit Card
- Zelle
- HSA, FSA or HRA cards
- CareCredit
- Zip (buy now pay later)
- Crypto Currency
No. Our pricing is transparent and all-inclusive. This means the price you you will be asked to pay is the final price for that service. There are no hidden fees and we will never come back to you with a surprise charge.
ColonoscopyAssist is typically able to schedule appointments faster than a patient scheduling on their own. Most patients are able to complete their procedure within a few weeks of submitting their scheduling forms.
health sharing plan.
You may submit this request by emailing [email protected] or calling our support line at (855) 346-5152.
Appointment Questions
The patient must obtain pre-procedure preparation instructions from the facility prior to the study. ColonoscopyAssist is unable to provide this information.
You will need to bring your I.D. and a copy of the ColonoscopyAssist voucher to your appointment (electronic copy acceptable). Both are mandatory.
You will be able to choose your facility at the time of submitting your scheduling request.
Additionally, if you have a confirmed appointment, you can find the address and phone number of the location in your appointment confirmation email. Be sure to confirm the address with the facility prior to your appointment.
ColonoscopyAssist works with hundreds of providers, each having a rapidly fluctuating schedule. While most appointments are scheduled quickly, our team does not have direct access to each center’s schedule.
Patients are asked provide their scheduling preferences when requesting an appointment and our schedulers will do their best to meet these preferences. In most cases they are able to meet the preferences. If they are unable to meet the preferences, the schedulers select the best available option and you can choose to keep the appointment or reschedule.
No. To receive ColonoscopyAssist rates, you must initiate the scheduling request via our program.
Additionally, ColonoscopyAssist does not take over existing appointments, or interfere with an existing patient provider relationship.
All appointment changes must be made through ColonoscopyAssist. Please do not contact the facility directly. To modify your appointment, use the link provided in your confirmation email, or reach out by phone at 855-542-6566 or by email at [email protected].
You can coordinate prep information directly with the facility after scheduling your appointment. Make sure to call the prep number provided in your appointment confirmation email at least 7 days before your appointment to receive the necessary prep instructions.
Yes. Some providers utilize a prescription prep, while others utilize an over-the-counter prep. You will coordinate the prep with the provider directly prior to your appointment date.
Refunds
Yes. If a procedure was not rendered, you are entitled to a full refund per our money-back guarantee.
Please note there is a fee for last minute cancellations and no-shows as per our refund policy.
You can request a refund by writing a simple email with your request to [email protected]
If you prefer to do it over phone, you may call ColonoscopyAssist at 855-542-6566
ColonoscopyAssist typically processes all refund requests within 48 hours. Once the refund has been processed, the refund should arrive within few business days depending on your bank or card.
No. There are no processing fees for refunds.
Yes. Our goal is for you to receive your procedure at the lowest out-of-pocket cost to you. If you later find out that your insurance will cover the procedure, you can request a refund.
Please visit our refunds policy page to see our policy about refunds for this situation.
Scheduling Process
Scheduling is simple and quick. The scheduling process is as follows :
- Search and select a location from our location lookup tool.
- Submit your appointment request (for assistance, call 855-542-6566)
- Receive your appointment confirmation.
- Complete payment for your procedure to receive your voucher.
- Go to your appointment and present your voucher at check-in.
No. A referral is not needed.
Consults are usually not needed for most asymptomatic patients scheduling through the program. However, whether one is required is ultimately at the discretion of the provider. A patient navigator will let you know if a consult is needed prior to scheduling. Discounted rates for consultations are available and some providers include consults within their procedure rate.
ColonoscopyAssist is typically able to schedule appointments faster than a patient scheduling on their own. Most patients are able to complete their procedure within a few weeks of submitting their scheduling forms.
In urgent situations, ColonoscopyAssist will work with the provider’s office to schedule your procedure as soon as possible.
Our program is subject to the availability and manpower limitations of providers that voluntarily collaborate with our program and should not be used as an emergency service. ER Rooms are best suited to handle emergencies.
No. To receive ColonoscopyAssist rates, you must initiate the scheduling request via our program.
Additionally, ColonoscopyAssist does not take over existing appointments, or interfere with an existing patient provider relationship.
Payments are due to ColonoscopyAssist at least seven (7) business days prior to your scheduled procedure. You will receive a unique payment link along with instructions within your appointment confirmation email.
No. ColonoscopyAssist cannot retroactively cover any procedures already performed.
Scheduled appointments must be cancelled using the cancellation link in your appointment confirmation email.
You may cancel an unscheduled appointment request in one of the following two ways :
1) By phone: 855-542-6566
2) By email: [email protected]
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a visual examination of the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) using a long, flexible tube equipped with a camera. Learn more about colonoscopies
You must meet one simple criteria to be able to schedule with ColonoscopyAssist:
- You must be paying for your procedure out-of-pocket.
That’s it! There are no income, residency or immigration restrictions at this time.
Our colonoscopy flat rate is an all-inclusive rate. It includes all costs related to the procedure and there are no hidden charges. The price includes:
1) Physician fees
2) Facility or Hospital fees
3) Sedation or Anesthesia costs
4) Removal of polyps and taking of biopsies
5) Pathology Cost (Pathologist and Laboratory fees)
Note: Our fee includes the removal and pathology lab fees for an unlimited number of polyps and biopsies.
This is important, as normally when providers state costs they do not include unlimited pathology lab fees.
- Consultations: Consultations are usually not needed for asymptomatic patients going through the program. For providers that require pre-consults for all patients, the cost of the consult is included in our flat-rate.
- Prep Medicine: The cost of bowel prep medicine is not included in the flat rate.
- Follow Up Care: Our rate only covers the scheduled procedure and does not cover any treatment before or after.
- Reference Pathology and Genetic Testing: When a cancerous mass is found, a second round of lab and genetic testing may be to determine a treatment plan. This additional testing is not part of the colonoscopy and is not covered in our flat rate even if they choose to use the specimen collected during the colonoscopy or endoscopy.
No, the rate does not change no matter how much pathology is incurred. Most colonoscopy and upper endoscopy procedures result in biopsies. Specimens are sent to a pathology lab for testing; our flat rate includes biopsies and pathology lab costs for any number of specimens. This means that 2, 3, or even 12 biopsies could be sent out and you would not be responsible for any extra cost. Typically, the cost of a pathology lab test can be quite significant. Pathology lab fees from just 4 specimens during an Upper Endoscopy procedure can cost in the thousands.
While colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening, there are some alternative tests available depending on individual circumstances. These might include:
- Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT): This non-invasive test checks for hidden blood in the stool, which can be a sign of potential problems.
- Cologuard DNA Test: This at-home test analyzes stool samples for DNA markers linked to colon cancer or precancerous growths.
Upper Endoscopy
An upper GI endoscopy procedure or Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a procedure where a scope is inserted into the stomach via the throat. The procedure is only done upon physician recommendation to diagnose certain conditions. It is not done as a screening and you should not assume that you need one along with a colonoscopy unless a physician has asked for it.
Our self-pay flat rate for upper endoscopy is an all-inclusive rate. It includes all costs related to the procedure and there are no hidden charges. The price includes:
- Physician Fees
- Facility or Hospital fees
- Sedation or Anesthesia costs
- Removal of polyps and taking of biopsies
- Pathology Cost (Lab fees)
- Reports from physician and pathology lab
Note: Our fee includes the removal and pathology lab fees for an unlimited number of polyps and biopsies. Nearly all Upper Endoscopy/EGD procedures have significant pathology needs. Most practices do not include the cost of pathology lab fees in their quotes. In many Upper Endoscopy procedures, the pathology lab costs can exceed the cost of the procedure itself.
- Consultations:
Consultations may or may not be included in our flat rate depending on the provider. Our facility locator tool will show that information. - Follow Up Care:
Our rate only covers the endoscopy procedure and does not cover any treatment before or after the upper endoscopy. - Clinical Lab Tests
Any non pathology lab tests are not covered. For example, the provider may recommend a lab test during your pre-consult.
No, it does not. Almost all Upper Endoscopy procedures result in multiple biopsies needed. All biopsies are sent to a pathology lab for testing; our flat rate includes biopsies and pathology lab costs for any number of specimens. This means that 2, 3, or even 12 biopsies could be sent out and you would not be responsible for any extra cost. Typically, the cost of a pathology lab test can be quite significant. Pathology lab fees from just 4 specimens during an Upper Endoscopy procedure can cost in the thousands.
No. An upper endoscopy is never performed as a screening. It is a diagnostic procedure meaning that it would only be performed if your symptoms and medical history support needing the procedure.
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