Access & affordability

No health insurance? Screening may still be within reach.

If you are uninsured, underinsured, or paying out of pocket, there may be lower-cost ways to complete colorectal cancer screening. This page helps you understand one independent self-pay resource and what to verify before you schedule.

Independent self-pay resource

ColonoscopyAssist

ColonoscopyAssist describes its program as designed for uninsured and self-pay patients seeking lower-cost gastrointestinal procedures. Its current website lets patients search participating facilities, compare upfront pricing, and submit a scheduling request.

The program currently describes its colonoscopy rates as all-inclusive, including physician and facility fees, sedation/anesthesia, polyp removal or biopsies, and pathology. Pricing and availability can vary by location, so verify the current terms directly with ColonoscopyAssist before paying or scheduling.

Visit ColonoscopyAssist See how their program works

External links open a third-party website.

How to compare a self-pay offer

Ask what the quoted price actually includes.

Physician & facility

Confirm whether the gastroenterologist, endoscopy center or hospital, and facility charges are all included.

Sedation or anesthesia

Ask whether anesthesia is included and whether any separate anesthesia bill could be generated.

Polyps & biopsies

Ask whether removal of polyps and biopsies changes the quoted price.

Pathology

Confirm whether the pathologist and laboratory fees are included if tissue is sent for analysis.

Prep & prescriptions

Ask whether bowel-prep medication is separate and which pharmacy costs you should expect.

Follow-up care

Ask how results are delivered, who answers questions afterward, and whether follow-up visits have separate fees.

Before paying

Self-pay scheduling checklist

Confirm the exact total price for your location and procedure. Ask for a written list of what is included and excluded. Confirm the physician and facility that will perform the procedure. Ask what happens to the price if polyps or biopsies are needed. Confirm how pathology results and the procedure report will be delivered. Ask about cancellation, rescheduling, refund, and payment-plan terms. Arrange the required transportation home if sedation will be used.

Other possibilities

Check more than one access route.

Self-pay programs are one option, not the only option. Availability differs by community and personal circumstances.

Community health centers

Ask a federally qualified health center or community clinic whether it can arrange low-cost colorectal screening or refer you to a local program.

Hospital financial assistance

Hospitals and health systems may have financial-assistance or charity-care policies. Ask before scheduling whether you qualify and what documentation is required.

Local screening programs

State, county, nonprofit, or public-health programs may provide screening assistance in some areas. Ask your local health department about current options.

Symptoms are different from routine screening. If you have blood in or on the stool, persistent bowel changes, unexplained iron-deficiency anemia, ongoing abdominal symptoms, or unexplained weight loss, seek medical evaluation rather than relying only on a screening pathway. Learn about symptoms vs. screening.

External resource verification

Source used for this page

ColonoscopyAssistProgram description, self-pay services, and current pricing framework ColonoscopyAssistHow the program describes all-inclusive pricing and scheduling

External program information checked on September 5, 2026. Program terms can change; verify current information directly with the third party.