Colonoscopy covered by insurance except the pre-procedure pregnancy test

[Anonymous]

I am 50 with regular periods. Had my first colonoscopy and hospital gave me a pregnancy test immediately before. Now I am being charged $40 for that! Everything else was covered. How is that fair? Should I bother fighting with provider and/or insurer, or just pay it?

[Anonymous]

I would try to fight it. When my 13 year old needed a colonoscopy, I refused the pregnancy test - she hadn't started her period yet, but they still wanted to give her a test.

[Anonymous]

They should cover it if it was necessary for the colonoscopy.

[Anonymous]

I always decline pregnancy tests. I’m fully capable of knowing when I am and am not pregnant. I’ve never had a provider refuse to treat or prescribe, but I have been asked to document my refusal and awareness of consequences to pregnancy.

If I was refused service due to refusal to take pregnancy tests, I would file a complaint or suit.

[Anonymous]

I fight these kinde of insurance decisions on principle. It's not right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always decline pregnancy tests. I’m fully capable of knowing when I am and am not pregnant. I’ve never had a provider refuse to treat or prescribe, but I have been asked to document my refusal and awareness of consequences to pregnancy.

If I was refused service due to refusal to take pregnancy tests, I would file a complaint or suit.

You haven't had much stuff done, then. There are a lot of situations where they would absolutely refuse treatment. Whether it is denial, outright lying, obliviousness, or legitimate surprise, these tests come back positive a lot more than you think.

[Anonymous]

I recently had a colonoscopy and pretty sure they did not do a pregnancy test

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always decline pregnancy tests. I’m fully capable of knowing when I am and am not pregnant. I’ve never had a provider refuse to treat or prescribe, but I have been asked to document my refusal and awareness of consequences to pregnancy.

If I was refused service due to refusal to take pregnancy tests, I would file a complaint or suit.

You haven't had much stuff done, then. There are a lot of situations where they would absolutely refuse treatment. Whether it is denial, outright lying, obliviousness, or legitimate surprise, these tests come back positive a lot more than you think.

Statistically, you are incorrect on all fronts. Most people don't have "much stuff done", and of those treatments which absolutely require a negative pregnancy test, the immense majority come back negative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fight these kinde of insurance decisions on principle. It's not right.

Agreed, though the $40 savings is not worth my time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 50 with regular periods. Had my first colonoscopy and hospital gave me a pregnancy test immediately before. Now I am being charged $40 for that! Everything else was covered. How is that fair? Should I bother fighting with provider and/or insurer, or just pay it?

You’re gonna fight over $40?

[Anonymous]

I started colonoscopies at 40. Nobody ever mentioned pregnancy tests.

[Anonymous]

I had to pee in a cup last year for mine - I guess that was pregnancy test? I would def push back some op that’s annoying.

[Anonymous]

Weird. I had one a few months ago at 51 and no pregnancy test.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I am in my early 50s and they tried to give me the pregnancy test too since I haven't hit menopause. Thanks to family emergencies, etc., it's been a few months since I've had sex, so I declined.

[Anonymous]

I suspect the pregnancy test is because someone who didn't know she was pregnant, got one, exposed the fetus to anesthesia and they sued. Every time I have faced a wacky new requirement, I eventually found out it was due to a previous lawsuit.