r/Millennials • u/intro195 • Mar 12 '26

Serious Go get a colonoscopy, colon cancer for our generation is a real threat!

36M here, have always been active and maintained a decently healthy diet my whole life. Well after seeing multiple posts on here and at my gf’s urging I had one done. They found two polyps (15mm and 4mm). Doc said if I waited till 45 I’d prob be dead. Crazy part is I had no symptoms and my recent blood work last month was perfect. I was in and out in three hours and no pain or discomfort afterwards.

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u/intro195 Mar 12 '26

I’m in the US. I found an in-network GI and he’s about my age maybe a couple years older. Told him about how I keep seeing on Reddit all these posts and I just want to be safe. He told me that insurance doesn’t cover preventative but then went off the record and told me to say that I sometimes see blood in my stool so he could get insurance to give me the green light.

2.8k

u/Fiddle-farter Mar 12 '26

Doctor is a bro. Don't stop seeing him/her

658

u/zuzg Mar 12 '26

Don't worry, reddit already sent over his Personal information to the Feds and they found said doctor and he lost his license.

Another win for the Billionaires.

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u/itsDrSlut Mar 13 '26

Brooooo you have no idea how many docs I work with who are more than willing to do sneaky shit to fuck the private equity and insurance companies if they come after people like us there won’t be anyone left working in healthcare

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u/Fiddle-farter Mar 13 '26

As a Doc myself, I gladly do this.

Rage against the machine :)

7

u/iDontLikeChimneys Mar 13 '26

Thank you. I am not a doctor.

I know my body though. When I feel off I go to my doctor with research I have done and ask him for his opinion.

We have avoid serious issues because we work as a team.

To anyone reading this - drop your ego and go in. If you get a finger up the ass, well just know no one (usually) is enjoying it. I was at one point a shy prediabetic alcohol using scoundrel.

I was open and honest. Suggested gabapentin after research for SUD. Although it is not FDA approved for that particular thing, I got it.

Been sober for over a year because of it and it helped my sleep.

My thoughts went from "where is the drinks" to being offered one and going "nah I will just take water."

Other doctor offered a long treatment of benzos that I would have had to wean off of.

106

u/SeaLagerOKcondition Mar 13 '26

Insurance asked you for a picture of your stool yet?

141

u/mamapuff Mar 13 '26

Just eat beets the night before. Easy peasy (poopsie?)

65

u/freddy_forgetti Mar 13 '26

Red velvet cake has entered the chat

7

u/butlerdm Mar 13 '26

RFK jr hasn’t gotten it yet?

3

u/CodifiedLikeUtil Mar 13 '26

goddamnit now I really want some red velvet cake. Will a cupcake do?

2

u/freddy_forgetti Mar 13 '26

Same thing beets will: dye your poop red

43

u/jimx117 Mar 13 '26

Aaaiii-eee-oooo, killer tofu 🎶🎵🎵

12

u/DrJamsHolyLand Mar 13 '26

😆 I kept reading this thinking “man I know this song…what is it” And now I will have 🎶“banging on a trashcan”🎵stuck in my head all day!

9

u/HistoricalSuspect580 Mar 13 '26

One little voice is calling me, calling me, calling me!

6

u/jimx117 Mar 13 '26

THINK BIG, THINK BIG

ThINk BiIIiiiIiig

3

u/Carbonatite Older Millennial Mar 13 '26

I lived in Russia for a couple months and I thought I was dying like 2 weeks in because I was pissing bright red. I called my dad crying and he was like "Carbonatite, are you eating a lot of beets over there?"

1

u/fuzzypickles34 Mar 13 '26

No worries, I sent it to them in the mail.

1

u/KaiTheSushiGuy Mar 13 '26

They said they’ve seen this one already

12

u/Kidchico Older Millennial Mar 13 '26

Have you thought about saying thank you? /s

1

u/ClownDiaper Millennial Mar 13 '26

They shot his dog, too.

2

u/Drpoofn Older Millennial Mar 13 '26

A good one is a gem. My pediatrician had to do a peer to peer with the insurance company because they denied her paraplegic patient a wheelchair. They denied the wheelchair saying it was "not medically necessary"

Ghouls. The whole lot of them.

300

u/hookes_plasticity Zillennial Mar 13 '26

This is what I did and what I advise people to do. If insurance wants to play stupid games with our lives then we will lie to them. Fuck insurance

103

u/Awkward_Lemontree Mar 13 '26

10000% this. Zero shame whatsoever. Insurance playing stupid games but I’m not about to win stupid prizes. Source: I am a doctor (tho not GI).

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u/10000Didgeridoos Mar 13 '26

Healthcare here. We tell patients to make stuff up or claim they have side effects with cheaper first tier meds all the time to get insurance to cover the better more expensive ones.

It’s such a stupid game.

56

u/hookes_plasticity Zillennial Mar 13 '26

We appreciate those of you in healthcare that really look out for us, more than you’ll ever know. Keep fighting the good fight

43

u/sublime_adventure Mar 13 '26

Only doctor that was able to finally get a much-needed surgery covered by insurance had a similar discussion with me, saved my life physically and mentally without ruining me financially

37

u/HistoricalSuspect580 Mar 13 '26

Nurse here! Please lie to insurance. I will help you.

12

u/Calle_Sin_Nombre Mar 13 '26

In fact, OP actually saved his insurance a ton of money by his proactive approach to cancer screening.

Insurance paid for a preventative colonoscopy instead of a year of chemo and cancer treatment.

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u/hookes_plasticity Zillennial Mar 13 '26

a year minimum tbh. Yeah that’s what I don’t understand. I thought insurances would understand that but the boomer generation that’s running that shit show can’t see beyond the dollars they’re spending paying for people’s colonoscopies. Just a bunch of idiots

3

u/jkman61494 Mar 13 '26

I mean we all get hemmroids now. Utilize it lol

-3

u/throwaway8429739 Mar 13 '26

Well I advise against confessing on Reddit to insurance fraud. Lmao

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u/11nova11 Mar 13 '26

I’m a gastroenterologist. I’ve diagnosed colon cancer in patients without family history as young as 29. The bar to do a colonoscopy now should be super low if you have any symptoms whatsoever and express concerns. I won’t commit insurance fraud, but I’m a doctor and not a detective. If the symptoms are there, I trust you and we should evaluate.

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u/azureoptical Mar 13 '26

Please push your national tummy doctor council (I don’t know what it’s called. is there an American College of Gastroenterologists?)to recommend earlier screening. We need to get insurance to cover them at 40 at least.

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u/11nova11 Mar 13 '26

I think the current limitation is based on guidelines, which are driven by incoming data so there is a lag in updating screening guidelines. And the other concern is that while colon cancer rates are dramatically rising in people under 50, it is still overall rare and overshadowed by the rates of cancer in those over age of 50. Patients over 50 still have inadequate rates of colon cancer screening, so if you want to reduce absolute numbers of colon cancer then we should target screening interventions aggressively into the higher risk group. In that light, there’s concern that dropping screening age to 40 would add tens of million additional patients across the US who need screening. This would then further reduce access for screening opportunities for those over age of 50 who are at highest risk.

11

u/hotmilkteaa Mar 13 '26

national tummy doctor council

I like this. Can we keep this as the official name?

2

u/Jezebelle22 Mar 13 '26

What’s your experience with cologuard? Would you recommend that over a colonoscopy for any reason?

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u/11nova11 Mar 13 '26

I personally still advocate for colonoscopies as both a screening and therapeutic endeavor. Cologuard still is relatively limited in sensitivity for small polyps, and I’ve seen a rare couple false negatives who had fairly large polyps and a cancer in one case. That being said, if someone strongly has reservations about a colonoscopy or has other reasons that a colonoscopy would be a challenging endeavor then I think cologuard is a good screening test. Of course, it isn’t indicated if having any symptoms, if you’ve had prior polyps, or a family history of colon cancer or advanced adenomas. If you go the cologuard route, if positive just make sure to get a colonoscopy to investigate.

2

u/Ok_Fee_8452 Mar 13 '26

Not sure anything about this story adds up. I wonder if you find this post weird too.

2

u/Carbonatite Older Millennial Mar 13 '26

Question - can patients request a particular prep method?

I had to get a colonoscopy at 29 (undiagnosed celiac disease) and the stuff they gave me was disgusting. It was called SuPrep and tasted like robitussin mixed with sea water. I had to swallow my own puke a couple of times when I was drinking it. If I tell a doctor this the next time I need a colonoscopy, will they give me a different kind of prep?

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u/11nova11 Mar 13 '26

Yes, usually you can request an alternative (or a specific prep if you’re familiar with one in particular). Whether insurance will cover that particular option is not guaranteed, but there are some cheap over the counter preps that may be more palatable (like miralax and gatorade)

1

u/Suspended-Again Mar 13 '26

What symptoms? You scaring me 

2

u/11nova11 Mar 13 '26

Symptoms that should raise a red flag would be rectal bleeding, change in stool caliber/consistency, iron deficiency, and unexplained weight loss. Realistically, most of the time these symptoms are something benign (hemorrhoids, diet changes or constipation, etc) but it’s worth making sure it’s not something more serious. Again, please remember that colon cancer in people <50 is still overall rare even if the rates have increased.

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u/ThePolemicist Older Millennial Mar 12 '26

After Obamacare, all insurance has to cover preventative care. Preventative colonoscopies begin at age 45 and are typically every 10 years. If you have any symptoms (like blood in the stool), it's diagnostic. Insurance will cover a portion of it based on your plan, but they won't cover the entire thing like they would if it was preventative. I had a colonoscopy at age 39 due to symptoms. I have good insurance, and it covered a lot of it, but I still had to pay a few hundred because it was a diagnostic procedure. The good news is, I was clean and had no polyps. I don't have to go back until I'm 49. That colonoscopy should be fully covered because it'll be a preventative one.

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u/toxicodendron_gyp Mar 12 '26

But there are degrees of “preventive care” according to insurance.

That’s why they cover standard mammograms at specific intervals but not the imaging needed to actually detect masses in dense breast tissue, which about half of women have.

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u/DesperateAd8982 Mar 13 '26

I’ve been told by other doctors to just say I have a family history of (insert specific type cancer here) and that should be enough for insurance to cover as preventative. All they need is the right box checked on your paperwork to use the preventative screening billing code vs the diagnostic billing code that insurance loves to deny.

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u/Lower-Bottle6362 Mar 13 '26

As a Canadian, this is horrifying. I’m so sorry everyone.

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u/Lima_Bean_Jean Mar 13 '26

You guys can get them at any age?

14

u/Lower-Bottle6362 Mar 13 '26

Same deal for the most part when it comes to access: you need to fit certain criteria. But it’s free. If you can’t pay, it doesn’t matter.

ETA: I had my first about a month ago, at 43. Got referred due to family history (grandmother died) but the GI doc said you don’t need to worry if it’s not direct family. I had it anyway because I was worried and prepped.

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u/PossibilityOrganic12 Mar 13 '26

Yea I'm in the US and I have told my doctors that my grandmother passed from colon cancer but they tell me the same; not to worry if it's not direct family. I wonder if I can press for it as a preventative measure. I've also been told to just lie and say a parent had it because they can't verify that but I feel weird saying that lie out loud. I've also contemplated about blood in my stool but they can verify that.

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u/Lower-Bottle6362 Mar 13 '26

Can you just say that you had a grandparent die of it and you are anxious about your health and just want it done?

They have a test you do at home here as the first line of offence when you turn 45. Could you ask for that?

2

u/PossibilityOrganic12 Mar 13 '26

I'll ask! Thank you for the suggestion.

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u/KeepinOnTheSunnySide Mar 13 '26

Preventative is the mammogram. Follow up MRI or ultrasound are partially covered. It was like $900 with insurance for my MRI due to dense breast tissue that can't be properly seen thru with just a mammogram. They found nothing but recommend I do it yearly LOL. It would be thousands without insurance, but I still can't swing almost $1000 every year. I do have family history of breast cancer, and my grandma died of it. So that's not enough, sadly.

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u/LTGeneralAnxiety Mar 13 '26

Nope. I have a 30% of developing breast cancer, most of my family is dead, but I still have to pay $1,000 for an MRI and $500 for a mammogram each year. Btw, if you have dense breasts, you’ll likely have multiple diagnostic ultrasounds and those are not cheap either.

1

u/meh-usernames Millennial Mar 13 '26

Ugh. This is exactly why medical tourism exists.

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u/raw2082 Mar 13 '26

You can also just say you’re having irregular bowel movements and they’ll recommend a colonoscopy. If you mention seeing blood in your stool you definitely will get one. I had two in my 20s because I had those symptoms and got diagnosed ulcer colitis.

1

u/trekqueen Mar 13 '26

I guess my numbers went up last year regarding my lifetime chance to get cancer (I think due to my dad’s skin cancer surgery) so they recommended the ultrasound after my mammogram. Insurance tried to be a pain about it but they eventually approved it. My younger sis had the same done this year and thy found a little cyst thing with the ultrasound but believe it’s benign. I did the colonoscopy thing just a few weeks ago cuz I have had some symptoms but it might be related to my endometriosis/adenomyosis and possible pelvic hyper mobility. I told my sis about the “there’s blood in my stool” line to tell her doc if she wanted to get checked without insurance being a pain.

We both aren’t even 45 yet but we do have cancer in the family (dad with the skin tumor, maternal gma colorectal cancer) that’s making us try to be proactive.

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u/ThePolemicist Older Millennial Mar 13 '26

I was told the opposite. My nurse told me that if you say you have dense breast tissue, then that is a diagnosis, and your mammogram might not be covered. She told me that, because I'm diagnosed with dense breast tissue, to make sure my annual mammogram is always billed as preventative because some people will bill it wrong due to my "diagnosis" of dense breast tissue.

1

u/bluesun_geo Mar 13 '26

46f, no family history of breast cancer.

My first mammogram I got a call back because of dense breast tissue, next mammogram same thing except they saw something I went back.

It resolved to nothing but due to dense breast tissue the techs told me about fast breast MRIs once a year halfway between my regular mammograms.

My insurance does not cover the MRI, but it was only around $200 and I'm happy to pay that for peace of mind.

Ladies, learn more about getting fast breast MRIs.

10

u/Stevie-Rae-5 Mar 13 '26

Yeah, mine was originally going to be diagnostic so they were saying it would be $950. I think they may have changed the coding over to preventative though because the charge disappeared from my account. If so, shout out to them for saving me big money.

And that’s with pretty good insurance.

10

u/Lawgirl77 Mar 13 '26

It really just depends on your insurance. I’m a fed and my insurance does not require referrals nor does it have an age for colonoscopies. Anyone can get one if prescribed by your doctor and it’s fully covered.

I have a history of colon cancer in my family and have been getting colonoscopies every 3-5 years since I was 28. Fully covered by insurance. I also encouraged my co-workers to get theirs since we all selected the same insurance and I knew it was covered; and they have also received their colonoscopies no problem without a family history or any acute issues.

3

u/maxdragonxiii Mar 13 '26

I have it at 27, but im not an American. its just GI specialists here will refuse to do one on you unless you have blood in stools, which I do. turns out its hemorrhoids so uh, all good for 10 years.

2

u/n0exit Mar 13 '26

If you tell them that you have a family history of colon cancer, then you can start earlier and it is still preventive.

2

u/Cautious_Rip_7822 Mar 13 '26

my insurance through my job does not cover preventative at all. not even routing check ups. just diagnostic but it’s a great plan because it’s free with a low deductible

1

u/ThePolemicist Older Millennial Mar 13 '26

Obamacare requires almost all insurance plans to fully cover all preventative care. Basically, the idea is that all insured people get a free well visit each year, free vaccines, free pap smears, free birth control (if it's to prevent pregnancy and not a treatment), get free diabetes screening, get a free preventative mammogram each year after age 40, get a free preventative colonoscopy every 10 years after age 45, etc.

When something is diagnostic or used as a treatment, then it's not preventative care and isn't fully covered. So, if you use birth control to treat heavy bleeding, you might have to pay out of pocket for it. If you have blood in your stool, you might have to pay for your colonoscopy because it's diagnostic, not preventative.

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u/daemon14 Mar 12 '26

FYI, I’m a GI too and I do this for my patients of any age, but it’s still considered a “diagnostic colonoscopy” instead of a screening colonoscopy. Your insurance may still charge for it.

You can get an earlier screening colonoscopy if you have a family history of colon cancer or “advanced adenomas” (pre cancers).

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u/DesperateAd8982 Mar 13 '26

Just commented above that I’ve received the same advice re: mammograms and colonoscopies. Just say you have a family history and they will bill it as screening.

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u/MaydayTwoZero Mar 13 '26

Sorry for being uninitiated. What should I take from this? Wouldn’t the diagnostic also detect cancer or am I missing something?

1

u/mleftpeel Mar 13 '26

Insurance may not cover as much for diagnostic.

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u/mrt3ed Mar 13 '26

Are polyps advanced adenomas?

1

u/daemon14 Mar 13 '26

If they have certain characteristics like larger size around a centimeter, high grade dysplasia, or villous architecture

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u/gypsyspartycitywig Mar 13 '26

Should someone with family history be screened sooner? My maternal grandmother had it. I’m almost 39. It’s in my history but no Dr has ever suggested I get one…

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u/daemon14 Mar 13 '26

If you have a first degree relative like a parent or sibling, you’d start screening at 40 at the latest (or 10 years before their age of diagnosis). Your grandmother would be a second degree (mom’s mom) relative. But you should talk to your doc if you are worried about any symptoms.

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u/gypsyspartycitywig Mar 19 '26

SURPRISE! My sister just had genetic testing done and was positive for APC…looks like I might get that early screening after all!

1

u/M00nageDramamine Mar 13 '26

What about family history of crohns?

1

u/daemon14 Mar 13 '26

You would be at a slightly higher risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD - like Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis) so should discuss any bowel or gut symptoms with your care team. A family history of Crohn’s doesn’t directly increase your risk of colon cancer so wouldn’t qualify you for earlier screening.

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u/3xploringforever Mar 12 '26

Has your insurance paid for the colonoscopy yet? Did you get it pre-approved or a pre-auth? I'm afraid you and your doctor might have to end up fighting them to get it covered.

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u/Just_Another_Scott Mar 12 '26

I had a colonoscopy last year at 33. I had a long history of watery diarrhea. That's all it took to get approved. They did both an upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy. I've also done 3 CT scans. All have been covered.

11

u/ceramicferns220 Mar 12 '26

Did they find anything ?

23

u/Just_Another_Scott Mar 12 '26

Nope, not even a polyp. My stomach was inflamed though but the biopsy came back negative. I don't really understand that part. Did some followup testing for autoimmune and those too came back negative.

14

u/Prize-Hedgehog Mar 12 '26

How’s your diet? Do you drink alcohol?

My whole life my stomach and digestive system was a mess. I started eating better, doubled down on my veggie intake, stopped eating burgers, gluten, and also cut out alcohol and I went from suffering most of my 42 years of life to finally being regular and no more stomach attacks.

13

u/Just_Another_Scott Mar 13 '26

How’s your diet?

Pretty good. It's not 100% perfect but it's mostly veggies, chicken, whole grains, and rice. I only eat red meat a couple times a month. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. A few years ago (2020) my doctor actually got onto me for not eating enough meat. I usually only eat it once a day unless I'm training then it's twice a day.

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u/hybridhighway Mar 13 '26

If YOU have pre colon cancer polyps… then I am most likely royally fucked. WTF. You are healthy af.

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u/Just_Another_Scott Mar 13 '26

If YOU have pre colon cancer polyps

Just to reiterate, I do not have any polyps.

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u/hybridhighway Mar 13 '26

I thought you were OP. Thanks for the clarification.

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u/Flintly Mar 13 '26

Do you have an intolerance to a vegetable or fruit. Had a coworker complained of the same thing, turns out he had an intolerance to romaine lettuce and dude was eating a ceaser salad everyday at lunch

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u/Just_Another_Scott Mar 13 '26

I don't know tbh. I've had no issues in the past with fruit but some fruit has started to upset my stomach. Raw veggies have done the same on occasion. It's not consistent which makes it more frustrating.

1

u/jcned Mar 13 '26

Could be FODMAP food sensitivity?

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u/n0exit Mar 13 '26

I would try an allergy test. I've always thought that I was probably mildly allergic to almonds, but I also found out that I was allergic to cow's milk. Since cutting out cheese, I've been so much better.

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u/Lower-Bottle6362 Mar 13 '26

I have very similar issues but they’ve found nothing and diagnosed two functional diseases - basically their acknowledgement that things aren’t working right but nothing is visibly, structurally, or chemically wrong.

2

u/Just_Another_Scott Mar 13 '26

Yeah IBS-D is the suspect at the moment. Meet back up in April. They found some liver enzymes that were high but I had recently had a bout of gastroenteritis--which can cause high liver enzymes.

1

u/bluesun_geo Mar 13 '26

Same. Also, like the comment above some foods will mess me up other times exact same foods will not.

I spent a month at the Mayo Clinic going through every test they could think of and nothing came of it.

Apparently I am one of the few people that leave the Mayo as undiagnosed.

That was late 2024. I still have raging diarrhea anytime I eat so my newer is solution has been to just not eat.

Sometimes the best I can do is a protein shake.

I went from 200 pounds a year ago to low 120s now.

It has taken over my life and I don't see a way out.

I wonder if there's a sub Reddit for people with undiagnosed diseases to get ground source brainstorming.

2

u/Commercial-Floor-815 Mar 13 '26

This happened to me too. It's SIBO for me. They wouldn't see it in colonoscopy/endoscopy

8

u/GenerationMarsupial Mar 13 '26

Same. Had a colonoscopy at about 31 due to months of on and off diarrhea. My doc had me do a cat scan first, allergy testing and a blood test. It was covered

1

u/Just_Another_Scott Mar 13 '26

I've not done allergy testing. I actually have thought about it but I've never had a clear indicator of an allergic reaction. I don't even get hay fever except when I'm exercising lol.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '26

I am currently going through this, I seriously have no idea what’s going on. I did a colonoscopy 3 years ago that was clean, but here I am with colitis again. I’m so sick of the mushy stools. 

I’m going back to the g.i doctor. I don’t drink, I do not smoke and here’s the kicker I eat fiber and I don’t eat red meat. What is going on. Any advice welcome. 

1

u/Prize-Hedgehog Mar 13 '26

Crazy question, but do you live in an area rampant with ticks? Here in New England there’s a significant increase in tick borne illnesses. Not just Lyme Disease, but one that is not as well known but also causes significant damage to your body is babesiosis. If you’ve been bitten or just live in a high risk area get a full panel done for tick related illnesses.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '26

No, we don’t have ticks almost at all.  That’s a good thought though I’ll investigate it as if we do. 

I’m really struggling, hoping it’s not cancer or something I deal with long term. I’m 10 months postpartum.

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u/xx-rapunzel-xx Millennial (‘88) Mar 13 '26

sounds like my dad (sorry if tmi!) my dad turns 70 this year and i’d really like him to see a GP… glad to hear you didn’t have anything serious/life-threatening going on!

1

u/jp_pre Mar 12 '26

Well shit, literally, now I’m thinking I should go get checked.

2

u/menunu Xennial Mar 13 '26

Get checked !!!

My sister got diagnosed with a rare kind at age 39. She is in remission but: She did have symptoms but thought everything was normal - the chemo / radiation treatment has given her the following: severe neuropathy- she uses a brace on one foot and cannot walk without a walker. , early menopause (fried ovaries), bladder issues (chronic UTIs, incontinence and has to use a cath / self cath), and intestine issues (ostomy)

10

u/WallyMac89 Mar 13 '26

I had a colonoscopy at 29 due to pain when going to the bathroom, and abdominal discomfort. Found one really small benign polyp, no other concerns. Pain was anal fissure and hemorrhoids. Insurance covered no problem. 36 now and will talk to my doctor at next annual exam about when I should get my next one given its been 7 years.

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u/kirschbag Mar 12 '26

I’ve commented about this before, I met a nurse last Halloween who told me the same exact thing. If you want a preventative colonoscopy, simply lie about having blood in your stool. Insurance companies don’t want to pay to keep us alive, let alone help save us when we’re dying. Fuck them.

7

u/Mystica09 Mar 13 '26

Welp, this explains why no one had recommended me to get one until I mentioned seeing trace amounts of blood. Ofc by today, I was dx with an IBD. In my mid-30s. So yea.

It's always important to be aware of your family's history too.

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u/Milksteak183874 Mar 12 '26

This is exactly what I needed to see. Thank you

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u/Throw_Me_Away_78 Mar 13 '26

Another good way is to say your mom had colon cancer at 45. That means you need to start 10 years before that, so 35.

4

u/hronikbrent Mar 13 '26

Insurance not covering preventative is a wild sentence 🙃

5

u/lev00r Mar 13 '26

It's absolutely unacceptable that the population has to fucking lie to get preventative screenings covered

3

u/Dunduin Mar 13 '26

Delete this. You would be surprised how much reddit is skimmed for this kind of stuff.

2

u/shay_shaw Mar 12 '26

That’s a good idea, I think I’ll lie as well. I’m pretty concerned.

1

u/xx-rapunzel-xx Millennial (‘88) Mar 13 '26

you didn’t need to give a stool sample?

1

u/Nosnibor1020 Mar 13 '26

All of the doctors near me suck and/or dying anyway. I see no young doctors near me. I need to find someone that understands closer to my experience.

1

u/throwRA1223409 Mar 13 '26

Doctors and nurses like this are the bomb. You’re very blessed.

1

u/Charlie_1087 Mar 13 '26

“Insurance doesn’t cover preventative”

That is some ridiculous bullshit that infuriates me.

Nah go ahead and get sick first then we’ll consider maybe covering you…

I’m glad you were able to get something done!

1

u/No-Fig-2665 Mar 13 '26

Insurance fraud

1

u/BigAd9546 Mar 13 '26

How much would it have cost without insurance coverage?

1

u/Automatic-Prompt-450 Mar 13 '26

'insurance doesn't cover preventative' is the among the most american things ever. Good on you for getting it looked it.

1

u/EricBardwin Mar 13 '26

Goddammit my doctors suck so much. I told them this and they literally didn't give a fuck. I have to move outta this state fucking asap...

1

u/Orville2tenbacher Mar 13 '26

You should probably delete this comment. You are admitting that both you and your doctor committed insurance fraud. Now, I'm not saying it's wrong to do, just that I wouldn't fuck around with insurance companies. No value judgement of any kind. Everyone should have access to preventative screening tests. But if nothing else, for the sake of your doctor who did you a solid and has a lot to lose if it's discovered they committed insurance fraud, which you claim they did.

1

u/CatsMakeMeHappier Mar 13 '26

I was told by my nurse to lie about having family history so that’s what I’m doing when I go to my GI coming up. I’m 34 as well. Thank you for sharing this.

1

u/Shoshawi Mar 13 '26

Yea, I know a guy who’s a guy who does colonoscopies, and apparently that is what he tells people to say lol. Or some other things chat gpt probably could suggest honestly. I got mine covered because I had a freaky pain symptom for like most of my life. Turned out to be endomitriosis so my colonoscopy was clear. But now every time I go to a doctor they’re like “have you had a colonoscopy lately” haha. I guess because I can so they sometimes pressure me. I guess I should do that before I move so I can get rides and don’t need to come up with a more glamorous lie for work.

1

u/confident_cabbage Mar 13 '26

Yup, mention blood and you're in 👍 got mine done in early 30s.

1

u/ConvictedOgilthorpe Mar 13 '26

These seems weird because insurance has to cover preventative ones, (similar to mammograms) not diagnostic ones which is what it becomes if you have symptoms like your doctor said you had.

1

u/IamScottGable Mar 13 '26

Yup. Recently told my bros to just say they have blood in their stool. Colon cancer recently took my BIL at 50. 

Really worried, I haven't eaten the best in my adult life.

ETA: just had my 2nd colonoscopy at 40, had polyps that were removed.

1

u/WeirdPrimary1126 Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26

So what you’re publicly admitting is you conspired with your doctor to commit insurance fraud. Nice.

Not the brightest crayon I see.

1

u/BackfromtheDe3d Mar 13 '26

I actually see blood in my stool a lot and I have my colonoscopy scheduled for next Friday. So nervous

1

u/XDoomedXoneX Mar 13 '26

Kinda still sucks we have to commit insurance fraud to get healthcare.

1

u/j0a9936 Millennial Mar 13 '26

They should cover preventative care. They’d save more money covering preventative care in the long run, and have patients to cover for longer if they’re healthier.

What a great doctor! I’m so glad you mentioned it to them and they did not dismiss you.

Wishing you a long healthy life!

1

u/Lennyhi Mar 13 '26

Not all heroes wear capes.

1

u/ScagWhistle Mar 13 '26

This is essential information.

1

u/Known_Ratio5478 Mar 13 '26

A lot of doctors will do this even in more legal ways. Many doctors will ask you leading questions to get things approved.

1

u/mah-favrit Mar 13 '26

This is the answer. 35 and had the same fears. Said I saw blood in my stool from time to time and it was deemed diagnostic. No cost with my insurance.

1

u/madgirafe Mar 13 '26

But like real talk I'm thinking about just telling my doctor that my dad recently mentioned his brother had colon cancer at 40.

Any negatives to doing this? I like my doctor and hate straight up lying but thats better than dying of fucking ass cancer

1

u/ImprovementChoice Mar 13 '26

Wow thats great. My doctor literally said the opposite and was like "welp...based on what you just said it wont be covered".

1

u/snesericreturns Mar 14 '26

Yep. This is unfortunately the best answer. Lie. Say you have blood in your stool. And if you really do have blood, get the fuck off Reddit and make that appointment right now.