There were six of us at breakfast Friday morning; guys just ‘chewing the fat’ (literally and figuratively). Turns out, two of us had colonoscopies this week!

That defies the odds, considering 40-44% of Americans (all ages) don’t even get an annual exam!

BTW, colonoscopies at a free-standing ambulatory surgical center (ASC) run about $1,600 - $3,100. Coincidentally, I have a client's EOB on my desk; his wife’s colonoscopy at a local hospital was $6,505 ($4,585 facility + $2,320 surgeon).

What difference does it make if insurance pays either way?

That's a rabbit hole for another day.

For now, let’s remember that under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), preventive services are usually covered at 100%. For most of us, that eliminates cost as an excuse for avoiding screenings.

Another excuse; fear. 

According to the National Cancer Institute, the 13 most common cancer types accounted for 1,652,520 new diagnoses in 2025; 154,270 were colon (and rectal combined). Detail HERE.

Yup, those are scary stats.

While you’re ‘digesting’ them (pun intended), Google survival rates for early detection. Get it?

I'll end (again, intended) with this. 

Sunday I saw way more of Mr. Whipple than Bad Bunny! (TMI?)