Fecal occult blood tests (screening)
Medicare covers screening fecal occult blood screenings if you get a written referral from your doctor, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.
If you’re 45 or older, Medicare covers this screening test once every 12 months. If you’re under 45, Medicare doesn’t cover this test.
Your costs in Original Medicare
- You pay nothing for this screening test if your doctor or other health care provider accepts assignment .
- If you get a positive result after a fecal occult blood screening test, Medicare also covers a follow-up colonoscopy as a screening test.
To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like:
- Other insurance you may have
- How much your doctor charges
- If your doctor accepts assignment
- The type of facility
- Where you get your test, item, or service
Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.
What it is
Fecal occult blood screening tests can help detect colorectal cancer early, when treatment is most effective.
Related resources
- National Cancer Institute Cancer Screening Fact Sheet
- CDC Colorectal Cancer Information
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force - Screening for Colorectal Cancer Recommendations
- American Cancer Society - Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2011-2013
- Multi-target stool DNA tests (screening)
- Colonoscopies (screening)
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy (screening)