What a stool test for colon cancer costs without insurance

What a stool test for colon cancer is

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine, which is also called the colon. A screening test looks for signs of cancer before you have any symptoms. The CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for adults ages 45 to 75. Adults ages 76 to 85 should decide about screening with their doctor.

A stool test checks a sample of your bowel movement. You collect the sample at home and send it to a lab, and nobody needs to look inside your body. It is one of several screening choices, and your doctor can help you pick the one that fits you. This page is general information and is not medical advice.

The two main at-home stool tests

The CDC lists three kinds of stool tests, and two of them are the ones people most often ask about.

• A fecal immunochemical test, called a FIT, looks for tiny amounts of blood in your stool that you cannot see. With this test, you collect a small sample at home and return it to your doctor or a lab. The CDC says to repeat this test every year.
• A stool DNA test, which the CDC calls a FIT-DNA test, looks for blood and for DNA changes linked to cancer. With this one, you collect an entire bowel movement and send it to a lab. The CDC says to repeat it every 3 years.
• A guaiac-based fecal occult blood test also looks for hidden blood. People collect it at home and repeat it every year.

A FIT is repeated every year, and a stool DNA test every 3 years. The cost per year can therefore look different from the cost per test. Ask for the price of one test, and then think about how many tests you would need over several years.

What does a stool test cost without insurance?

We looked for a current national cash price from a government agency or a research group, and we did not find one we trust. Many websites list prices, but we cannot tell where those numbers come from, so we do not quote a cash price. Prices also differ by test type and by the lab that processes the sample.

Medicare's 2026 lab fee schedule gives a government reference point. It pays $508.87 for the original multi-target stool DNA test, billed as code 81528, and $591.92 for a newer version, billed as code 0464U. For a FIT used for screening, billed as code G0328, it pays $18.05. These are Medicare payment rates, not cash prices, but they give you a number to compare with a quote.

A few things tend to drive the price. A FIT is a simpler test than a stool DNA test, so it may cost less. The stool DNA test uses a more complex lab process. Some places charge a separate fee for the doctor visit that orders the test, and some also bill a separate fee for the lab.

When you call, ask for the self-pay price, which is the price for people who pay without insurance. Here is what you can say: "I do not have insurance. What is your total price for this test, including the lab and any visit fee?" Our guide on how to ask for the cash price has a full phone script. The good faith estimate guide explains your right to a written price when you schedule ahead.

A positive stool test needs a follow-up colonoscopy

The follow-up is the most important cost question to ask before you start. The CDC says that if a stool test result is positive or abnormal, you need a colonoscopy to complete the screening process. A colonoscopy is a test where a doctor uses a thin tube with a camera to look at the whole colon.

A positive result does not always mean you have cancer, but it does mean more testing is needed. A stool test that costs less up front can therefore lead to a larger bill later. Ask your doctor, "If this is positive, where would I get the colonoscopy and what would it cost me?"

Our guide on colonoscopy cost without insurance explains why prices vary so much and how to ask for a total price. Please do not delay a follow-up colonoscopy because of cost. Talk to your doctor and the hospital about financial help first, and use our guide on hospital financial assistance.

Ways to pay less for colon cancer screening

The CDC runs the Colorectal Cancer Control Program. According to the CDC, the program works with clinics, hospitals and other health care groups to raise screening for adults ages 45 to 75. The program began with a pilot that aimed at people with low incomes and without enough insurance to pay for tests. The CDC now says awardees partner with clinics and health systems, so the program may not pay for tests directly. A call to your health department or a community health center is the best way to learn what is offered where you live.

The places below are good ones to ask about screening help.

• A community health center charges on a sliding scale, which means the price depends on your income. Ask whether it offers take-home stool tests and where it sends people for colonoscopies. Read our guide on community health centers to find one.
• Your state or county health department may know of local screening programs.
• A cash-pay doctor can explain your options and order a test. Direct primary care is a monthly membership that usually costs $50 to $200 a month. Our directory lets you search for a cash-pay doctor near you.

People with insurance usually get screening without a copay, but that rule does not help you without a plan. If you gain coverage later through Medicaid or a Marketplace plan, check what it covers before you schedule. In an emergency, such as heavy bleeding, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Who should talk to a doctor sooner

The CDC says some people need to start screening earlier or be screened more often. This includes people with inflammatory bowel disease, people with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, and people with certain genetic syndromes. A doctor may suggest a different test than a home stool test for people in these groups. Symptoms such as blood in your stool are a reason to see a doctor instead of waiting for a screening test.