20% co pay for colonscopy on Medicare?

[teachpdx]

I was hit with a $400 co pay for my colonoscopy on Medicare's UnitedCare. I thought it was covered every two years for high risk and was told that it's a high risk procedure for cancer survivors (same colonoscopy) and considered outpatient surgery and therefore I was subject to a 20% copay.

Just would like to check in with anyone else under similar circumstances just to make sure that this is the way things are. If so it's not a very good incentive for survivors to get tested.

Thanks,

Kristi

[dianetavegia]

We have BCBS as primary but I'm Stage IV and got notified that for my MRI/ CT (allergic to dye) in April, Medicare said I'd met my lifetime max!!!!

[betsydoglover]

Do you have a Medicare Supplement policy? If not, there is a 20% copay for Medicare Part B (doc visits, chemo etc). If you do have a supplement then depending upon whether or not your supplement has a deductible and how much, the 20% may be covered. In my case, Medicare + Supplement picks up all charges.

Take care,

[teachpdx]

Thanks Betsy. I got things figured out. Turns out it should have been included with biannual care. Called provider & they took care of it.

Just figuring how to work with medicare and turns out going to provider should be first step and Unitedcare last.