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Federal law

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires both private insurers and Medicare to cover the costs of colorectal cancer screening tests, because these tests are recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The law stipulates that there should be no out-of-pocket costs for patients, such as co-pays or deductibles, for these screening tests. But the definition of a "screening" test can sometimes be confusing, as discussed below.

The USPSTF currently recommends that people at average risk start colorectal cancer screening at age 45.

The ACA doesn’t apply to health plans that were in place before it was passed in 2010, which are called “grandfathered plans.” You can find out if your insurance plan is grandfathered by contacting your health insurance company or your employer’s human resources department. Even if you have a grandfathered plan, it may still have coverage requirements from state laws, which vary, and other federal laws.

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Originally posted by AdagioM:
My friend has learned, much to her dismay, that the smear test only checks for blood, and not all colon cancers bleed. She has been diagnosed with colon cancer.

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A polyp is a tissue mass shaped like a stalk or finger, commonly found in the colon, uterus, nose, and throat, among other areas.

A cyst is a fluid-, air-, or tissue-filled sac commonly found under the skin, wrists, knees, ovaries, and breasts, along with other parts of the body. When a cyst becomes infected, it fills with pus and is known as an abscess.