Colonoscopies

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@Trailrun23 wrote:
DH is trying to schedule a colonoscopy after three years when they found 3 benign polyps. He got a letter last week saying it was time to do "repeat". Finally reached the dr and they said they only do them on people under age 80. He is 75, so good thing he is getting it done now. I hate when insurance companies decide when you may have lived long enough.

@Trailrun23

I am assuming at age 75 your DH is on Medicare.

A few months ago I had a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy done in the same procedure. Nothing has ever been mentioned to me, via any form, that after 80 I am not covered by Medicare. I have had 2 Colonoscopies(the 1 recently) since I turned 80, and they were fully covered.

To my knowledge Medicare is a Federal, not a State coverage. At 83, my next Colonoscopy, is always pending, no specific year, or number of years.

Wish someone would point me to this information when it comes to Medicare coverage. I read the new 2023 manual sent out about Medicare, and if this age 80 is in there, I must have missed it.

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@hckynutjohn wrote:
@Trailrun23 wrote:
DH is trying to schedule a colonoscopy after three years when they found 3 benign polyps. He got a letter last week saying it was time to do "repeat". Finally reached the dr and they said they only do them on people under age 80. He is 75, so good thing he is getting it done now. I hate when insurance companies decide when you may have lived long enough.

@Trailrun23

I am assuming at age 75 your DH is on Medicare.

A few months ago I had a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy done in the same procedure. Nothing has ever been mentioned to me, via any form, that after 80 I am not covered by Medicare. I have had 2 Colonoscopies(the 1 recently) since I turned 80, and they were fully covered.

To my knowledge Medicare is a Federal, not a State coverage. At 83, my next Colonoscopy, is always pending, no specific year, or number of years.

Wish someone would point me to this information when it comes to Medicare coverage. I read the new 2023 manual sent out about Medicare, and if this age 80 is in there, I must have missed it.

hckynut 🇺🇸

@hckynutjohn it seems as if that is what happened to @qvcaddition, but she got the colonoscopy done today.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@Sage04

Not sure what you mean when you say "this is what to qvcaddition".

I started a thread with her name as the title over on the Community Chat Forum if you want to read her response.

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@qvcaddition wrote:
I had both done five years ago. They don't want to do another at my advanced age, so sent me a cologuard kit and mailed back yesterday. It's suppose to be 93% accurate.
I was OK five years ago.

@hckynutjohn this is what I was talking about. It seems as if 80 is the cut off age for a colonoscopy.

Don't know who made that decision whether is the Doctor or the insurance Company. Somehow I believe it's the Doctor because of the risk involved.

qvcaddition · ‎03-10-2010

@Sage04

@hckynutjohn

Well I haven't gotten the results yet, but pretty confident I'm OK

The night Friday that I had the colostomy I ended in the ER.

I was having severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, and back and neck pain.

I had told them I have some red marks on my left arm and under breast. Long story, so I won't go into it, but I think when they put me on left side, and the anesthesia wore off, it was from that.

The Dr in ER said he was glad I went in, because I didn't want to go, just wanted the EMT's to check me out.

It was scary because I had no one with me. I finally got ahold of the helpful son to pick me up and get me home.

He was not happy about that because they had taken me home from the colostomy that day and were tired of me having difficulties.

I have been independent, and the boys are not use to me having medical problems.

I was scared though, the pain in left arm and back of neck was so bad. Everything Ok, but a very rough week.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@qvcaddition wrote:
@Sage04
@hckynutjohn

Well I haven't gotten the results yet, but pretty confident I'm OK
The night Friday that I had the colostomy I ended in the ER.
I was having severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, and back and neck pain.

I had told them I have some red marks on my left arm and under breast. Long story, so I won't go into it, but I think when they put me on left side, and the anesthesia wore off, it was from that.
The Dr in ER said he was glad I went in, because I didn't want to go, just wanted the EMT's to check me out.
It was scary because I had no one with me. I finally got ahold of the helpful son to pick me up and get me home.
He was not happy about that because they had taken me home from the colostomy that day and were tired of me having difficulties.
I have been independent, and the boys are not use to me having medical problems.
I was scared though, the pain in left arm and back of neck was so bad. Everything Ok, but a very rough week.

Hi @qvcaddition

Just want to clarify, so those that might not have followed your posts about this. The procedure you had was a Colonoscopy, not a Colostomy. The latter is a Major Surgical Procedure, the other is not.

Since you were concerned, I am glad you went to the ER to get checked out. It is always smart to err on the side of your safety.

I know enough about the phrase a "Catch 22" when it comes to many health issues. Because of my physical and health background, and personal experiences, many go through this. Some even get trapped in it as an obsession.

You didn't mention what the ER doctor said about your Chest Pain or Shortness of breath. You mentioned what you thought, but what did the ER doctor say about it? Anything about Blood Pressure/Heart Rate/Oxygen Saturation, and did they draw blood to check your Protein Level! That is common when someone presents with Chest and Left Arm pain.

Surprised you haven't gotten all your results yet. I know sometimes this depends on the Labs used to get the results, I have always got my results within 2 days.

Hope you get back to feeling good and get all your results. Glad to hear your son, while not happy, was there for you when you needed him.

Always stay positive and Optimistic, to do otherwise can just add to one's uncertainties.

Your friend,

hckynut(john) 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

DrakesMomma · ‎06-02-2010

The following was copied from Medicare dot gov

Colonoscopies

Medicare covers screening colonoscopies once every 24 months if you’re at high risk for colorectal cancer. If you aren’t at high risk, Medicare covers the test once every 120 months, or 48 months after a previous flexible sigmoidoscopy. Medicare has no minimum or maximum age limit for a screening colonoscopy.

The only info I could find when searching colonoscopies after age 75 was the risk of the procedure itself.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@qvcaddition wrote:
@Sage04
@hckynutjohn

Well I haven't gotten the results yet, but pretty confident I'm OK
The night Friday that I had the colostomy I ended in the ER.
I was having severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, and back and neck pain.

I had told them I have some red marks on my left arm and under breast. Long story, so I won't go into it, but I think when they put me on left side, and the anesthesia wore off, it was from that.
The Dr in ER said he was glad I went in, because I didn't want to go, just wanted the EMT's to check me out.
It was scary because I had no one with me. I finally got ahold of the helpful son to pick me up and get me home.
He was not happy about that because they had taken me home from the colostomy that day and were tired of me having difficulties.
I have been independent, and the boys are not use to me having medical problems.
I was scared though, the pain in left arm and back of neck was so bad. Everything Ok, but a very rough week.

@qvcaddition so sorry this happened to you. I know you are worried about the results from the colonoscopy and that could be what's causing some of the problems. I would be very surprised if the results said something positive. Do you have "MY Chart" or "My Portal"? Usually they put the results there before they call the patients.

Is your son saying negative things or are you assuming these according to the look on his face? I hope nothing ever happens to him. From reading a lot of your Posts, you are very caring and it's hard to believe that your sons are acting this way. Both of them.

Anyway, hope next week will be a lot better for you.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@DrakesMomma wrote:
The following was copied from Medicare dot gov
Colonoscopies
Medicare covers screening colonoscopies once every 24 months if you’re at high risk for colorectal cancer. If you aren’t at high risk, Medicare covers the test once every 120 months, or 48 months after a previous flexible sigmoidoscopy. Medicare has no minimum or maximum age limit for a screening colonoscopy.

The only info I could find when searching colonoscopies after age 75 was the risk of the procedure itself.

@DrakesMomma yes, it's about the risk of the procedure.