ask: need free or very low-cost colonscopy

Hi Anon

Thanks so much for your question and I'm sorry you're in this position. It gets my "healthcare is a right for all" bandwagon revving up!

It's good to see you are doing your homework in terms of clinical trials and you're correct in that this is a good way to get free services.

At this stage, my advice is to call every hospital near you and ask to speak to a department that can help with financial assistance. You may be able to get services for a lower cost or have payments spread out over a couple of years.

I have found that when you ask and get through to these departments, they tend to want to work with you as much as possible.

Also, contact your County's health department - they also provide information on low or no cost services. You may need a note from your doctor or a doctor. Did you take the blood occult test yourself? If so, you may need to go to a low cost clinic near you in order to make the results "official" with a doctor's signature. This will ensure that you will at least be qualified to inquire about low or no cost service.

Have you check to see if you qualify for Medicaid?

Best,
~Susan