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A comment on Overall, the colorectal cancer story is encouraging. Parent comment

Re:Overall, the colorectal cancer story is encouraging by nphardon on Thursday February 19, 2026 @04:21PM (#47079583)
If you tell your doctor that a parent had polyps removed (say, recently), that will give you your best chance of getting one. Most likely, if you're in an even remotely progressive area, your doc wants you to have one, but their hands are tied by the insurance company. Afaik you dont have to provide any proof of your claim re parental polyps.
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Re:Overall, the colorectal cancer story is encouraging by lotsofpulp on Thursday February 19, 2026 @05:16PM (#47080367)
> but their hands are tied by the insurance company.

Doctors' ability to prescribe or refer is never restricted by an insurance company. If they think a patient should get whatever healthcare, they are free to say it.

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Re:Overall, the colorectal cancer story is encouraging by anoojb on Thursday February 19, 2026 @05:28PM (#47080552)
In CA, my doctor can refer me to get a Cologuard. But it's private pay, and they want payment up front since isurance companies don't restrict doctor's ability, only reimbursement.

So they may not be willing (even though they are able) perform procedure/test if they aren't confident they'll get paid.

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Re:Overall, the colorectal cancer story is encouraging by maxerickson on Thursday February 19, 2026 @08:40PM (#47082606)
You are just ignoring their intended meaning. Boring.
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Re:Overall, the colorectal cancer story is encouraging by lotsofpulp on Thursday February 19, 2026 @09:24PM (#47082890)
Is the intended meaning that health insurance should pay for anything and everything? Even systems where the government pays directly like the UK have parameters under which the government will pay for a procedure or medicine.
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Re:Overall, the colorectal cancer story is encouraging by nradov on Friday February 20, 2026 @01:16AM (#47084401)
Not at all. Patients are free to pay out of pocket for procedures not covered by insurance. An extra colonoscopy (one not classified as medically necessary), while expensive, is within the financial means of most middle-class adults.
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Re:Overall, the colorectal cancer story is encouraging by Calavar on Thursday February 19, 2026 @11:23PM (#47083712)
The average American says US healthcare spending, which is 3x to 20x that of other OECD countries on a per capita basis, is way too high.

The average American also thinks they should be provided testing and procedures that their insurance deems medically unnecessary.

Try to reconcile these two beliefs. (Hint: It's impossible)

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Re:Overall, the colorectal cancer story is encouraging by dpc050505 on Friday February 20, 2026 @10:12AM (#47088990)
Maybe there's a bunch of inflated profit margins and people getting filthy rich off a poorly regulated market.
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