TRICARE Provides Colonoscopy Screening Benefit Published May 10, 2007 By Brian Smith TriWest Healthcare Alliance PHOENIX -- Recognizing an increasing need for comprehensive preventive care for servicemembers and their families, TRICARE benefits include a specific schedule for colonoscopy screenings. For beneficiaries with an average risk of colon cancer, coverage allows one routine screening every 10 years, beginning at age 50. Eligible patients may self-refer to a TRICARE-network provider. For those with the listed indicators of advanced risk, the following covered screening schedules are recommended: A hereditary risk of non-polyprosis colorectal cancer syndrome. A colonoscopy is covered every two years beginning either at age 25, or when the patient is 5 years younger than the earliest age of a relative's diagnosis, whichever is earlier. After age 40, patients are covered for screening each year. A close familial risk of sporadic colorectal cancer. If one or more of the patient's parents or siblings (under the age of 60) have been diagnosed with sporadic colorectal cancer or adenomas, they are covered for a colonoscopy every three to five years beginning 10 years before the age of diagnosis for the youngest diagnosed relative. Routine colonoscopies that fall outside of the above schedule are not covered by TRICARE; however Medicare may cover a routine colonoscopy for Medicare-eligible beneficiaries. For more information on colonoscopy screening coverage, call TriWest at 1-888-874-9378 or log on to www.triwest.com. Information on the Medicare program can be found at 1-800-633-4227 or www.medicare.gov.
