colon cancer possible having severe bleeding and very loose stools

Hospital
Diane is right, if you got to the ER you cannot be turned away. Are you eligible for Medicaid? If so, and there is a serious problem, social services at the hospital can give you assistance. Not sure of your question?

geotina said:

Hospital
Diane is right, if you got to the ER you cannot be turned away. Are you eligible for Medicaid? If so, and there is a serious problem, social services at the hospital can give you assistance. Not sure of your question?

Colon Cancer Screening for the Uninsured
Hi. I hope this information is helpful.

Even though most colorectal cancer is completely curable if diagnosed early, it's still the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. That's why screening is so important. Did you know that getting a colonoscopy can reduce the average person's risk of dying from colorectal cancer by 90%? Ninety percent! Pretty convincing, right? But what if you're uninsured?

Approximately 47 million Americans are uninsured and many assume they can't afford colon cancer screening. If insurance isn't going to pay for it, knowing how much the test costs becomes a lot more important. Some tests aren't as expensive as you might expect; the cost of others may surprise you.

Here are the basics:
· Fecal Occult Blood Test: $10 - $25
· Sigmoidoscopy: $150 - $300
· Double-Contrast Barium Enema: $250 - $500
· Virtual Colonoscopy: $500 - $900
· Colonoscopy: $800 - $2,000
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---You may be able to afford some form of screening even if you're uninsured. Why not check with nearby healthcare providers to see how much they'd charge and if they offer any payment plans? If paying for a test isn't feasible, financial help may be available from some of the following state and local resources.

--Medicaid Assistance for the Uninsured
Medicaid is a federal healthcare program administered by individual states. That means the federal government tells states: you can do this, you can't do that, and here's some stuff you can do if you want to, but you don't have to. Colon cancer screening falls into the last category. States are authorized to cover the screening, but each one gets to decide what kind of screening it will provide and under what circumstances. How can you find out what Medicaid covers in your state? Keep reading.
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------State Screening Programs for the Uninsured
The website for your state's government should have information about healthcare resources in your state, county, and possibly your city or town. The web address is usually your state sandwiched between "www" and "gov" (e.g., www.maryland.gov). Another great resource for uninsured individuals is GovBenefits.gov. The site can help you find and determine your eligibility for state-administered programs like Medicaid.
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----Local Screening Programs for the Uninsured
Sometimes mobile screening centers visit communities and offer free cancer screening. Your local health department may do the same or offer free screening days on-site at the clinic or hospital. Two good ways to find local health resources are to search the yellow pages online or check the blue pages in your phone book. (The blue pages provide organizational and contact information for state and local government entities.)-
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----Additional Resources for the Uninsured
Benefits CheckUp offers an online questionnaire that can help uninsured individuals identify private or government programs to help with prescription drug and other healthcare issues.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also sponsors a "Screening for Life" program that reimburses participating health departments for cancer screening. When you contact your state or local health department, you may want to ask if they participate in CDC's "Screening for Life" program. Yes, they're the ones who should bring it up, but we all know that sometimes you have to ask a question just right to get the answer (or service) you're seeking.
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----The CDC also set up five screening centers in the U.S. where uninsured and underinsured individuals can get free or reduced-cost colon cancer screening (as well as other types of tests). You can learn more about these centers at the Find a Local Program portion of the CDC's website.

lisa42 said:

Lucyanne
Hi Lucyanne,

I just finished asking you some specific questions on the other thread you posted, which was before I saw this post. As I said on the other one, please give us more specific details as to your specific symptoms and concerns. Also, let us know your situation so far as not having insurance. What state do you live in? Laws and guidelines on who is able to get free cancer screening varies from state to state. Maybe someone on this board will be familiar with the laws and guidelines in your state. I just recently had concerns and questions about my own insurance situation and I was amazed and so pleased at how many people answered my post and gave me helpful information about my situation.
If you can somehow get insurance, even if just for a little while to get in to see the Dr., that would be the best situation. If not, then we need to see what kind of screening you may qualify for. Many states offer free or at least reduced fee screenings/colonoscopies for people who have no insurance or are considered "poor". Who's considered "poor" varies from state to state according to the cost of living there and according to the current state laws and guidelines about it. Do you qualify for Medicare or Medicaid? (Medicare is if you're retired and Medicaid is for lower income people). It's worth checking into, as you might be pleasantly surprised that you do qualify. Give us info on your state, your age, and whether or not you think your income level might qualify you for help or not.
We can't help you without more specific information.

Best wishes to you-
Lisa

medicare is also for
medicare is also for disability regardless of age.
I am on SS disability and medicare and am not retirement age