Cost of a colonoscopy

introduction

Colonoscopy is an important diagnostic tool in the prevention of colon cancer.
In the following, the costs for patients with statutory and private health insurance are discussed.

You can find out more about the process of a colonoscopy here: Course of intestinal irrigation

Statutory health insurance costs

From the statutory health insurances Intestinal mirroring from the age of 55 in the course of Cancer screening paid. If the intestinal mirror image is negative - i.e. the doctor performing the procedure does not notice any changes or pathological processes, then the colon mirror image can Performed again 10 years later become.

Under normal conditions, one of the statutory health insurance funds will be issued outpatient colonoscopy paid. This means that the patient only comes to the practice for a colonoscopy. Preparing for a colonoscopy, such as drinking from that laxativethe patient does himself at home.

A inpatient colonoscopy is not paid by the statutory health insurance if there are no special indications. Possible indications for the implementation in an inpatient environment are e.g. before when the patient is unable to drink the laxative on their own or when due to others Pre-existing illness the preparation must take place under observation. Basically, the Family doctor can provide the indication for an inpatient colonoscopy.

With people under 55 years of age the colonoscopy is not paid for under all circumstances. In this case, the indication for a colonoscopy must be made by the family doctor; if this does not happen, then the costs for the treatment must be borne by the patient himself.

If in the family Cases of Colon cancer are known, then this is a clear indication for a controlled colonoscopy, the costs of which are then covered by the health insurance companies.

If the patient has symptoms that could suggest a disease of the intestinal tract, such as chronic bowel disease (e.g. Crohn's disease or Ulcerative colitis) or Colon cancer, then there is also an indication for a colonoscopy.

The patient should deal with their symptoms Family doctor make a transfer to Specialist in gastroenterology can exhibit.

In the presence of a bowel disease should a colonoscopy every 1 to 2 years be performed. In this case, the costs are covered by the health insurances, since in this case too, the colonoscopy is carried out justified - namely for follow-up and for possible interventions such as the removal of polyps.

Private health insurance costs

For people who are privately insured, just like for those with statutory health insurance, if a doctor considers the colonoscopy to be important, the costs will be covered by the private health insurance.

Private health insurance companies do not have a uniform standard for colon mirroring for cancer screening from the age of 55. The private health insurance companies are not bound by the legally prescribed catalog of services for the statutory health insurance companies. Before the examination, it should therefore be ascertained whether the colonoscopy is accepted by contacting the private health insurance company. In the course of the basic tariffs of the private health insurance companies, however, it is regulated by law that the standard services must correspond to those of the statutory health insurance companies, i.e. that the private health insurance companies must basically offer all the services that the statutory health insurance companies also offer.
This means that colon cancer screening must be offered from the age of 55. However, since there may be deviations in the exact services offered by private health insurance companies, such as the point in time from which the preventive care is offered should nevertheless be inquired in advance with the respective health insurance company to what extent the cost of the colonoscopy will be taken over at the respective point in time.

If a patient should have an colonoscopy performed in a specialized clinic, then it is possible that one will be asked to sign a private treatment contract. In this case, other and, above all, more expensive treatments can be billed by the treating clinic. These are not covered by the health insurers and in this case must be borne by the patients themselves.

Read more on the topic: Private health insurance

The individual cost items

Various cost items are included in the cost of the colonoscopy. On the one hand the medical ones Devices themselves, as well as their repair and maintenance. There are also costs for Premises, staff and materials includes. Another expense is that Medical fee to be mentioned for the investigation, which is calculated from a legally regulated point system.

By and large, the cost of a colonoscopy can increase 200-300€ amount. It should be noted that this is a basic amount. However, should the same intervention additionally e.g. Removal of polyps be carried out or yourself Complications In the result that prolong the examination then the cost of the colonoscopy can also be in areas of 400-500 € rise.

For Private patients Please note that the costs can be even higher, as the attending physician is entitled to use a multiplication factor of up to 2.3 and, in justified cases, also of 3.5. In order to avoid misunderstandings about the factor used and / or the total costs, this topic should be discussed with the treating doctor beforehand.