Help Nick Receive Testing and Treatment

Story

I have an upcoming colonoscopy procedure scheduled for the end of month to address chronic stomach/GI issues I have been struggling with and more importantly to address concerns my doctor has that the symptoms I am experiencing could meaningfully relate to early signs for colon cancer. Despite the time sensitive nature of catching something like colon cancer early and having specifically waited months to get in with a GI specialist who is in network, my insurance has declined coverage for any part of the procedure, which has left me in limbo trying to figure out how to make this all work. The GI Lab provided me with their estimate range for what the cost could be: $6,416-8,341. Notably I was told that this estimate could be lower than what it actually will finally result in costing. Apparently, this procedure can meaningfully change in price on the day depending on what my GI Specialist may find during the procedure, which could require additional testing or specific procedures at the moment. Without any coverage, I have no way to come close to affording this procedure, but given the nature of the test, I am terrified of the idea of not identifying what could be something like colon cancer. And given what my GI Specialist has described, there is a real risk if I let this go and I did have it. If you are able, it would be so meaningfully helpful to me for any assistance you can offer. Based on the uncertainty of the final price, I am setting my goal at $6000, but honestly any support right now that anyone can provide will put me leagues and bounds beyond where I am now. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide! Further background on my situation and this procedure: I have been struggling with GI issues for the last four years which have only become more severe and increasingly debilitating since the end of last year. With these issues, I continually struggle most weeks with my body being unable to process most meals even when I have maintained a number of incredibly strict diets. This has left me with an inability to properly maintain healthy levels of nutrition and more broadly impacted my overall health mentally and physically. With these issues in mind, I have undergone several rounds of testing, consultations and years ago when I first started experiencing issues, I had a diagnostic colonoscopy to try to get a sense of what I may have and how I can best work to treat it. Up until this point, the diagnosis has been inconclusive, if anyone has experienced or had family that has had to deal with GI or stomach issues in general, this is not uncommon. For years I have tried to find life changes that would help these symptoms, without finding any real meaningful relief. Since then, they have intensified over the last year with the introduction of at times severe abdominal pain, erratic weight change, and an increasingly large drain on my energy making work and daily tasks incredibly difficult to sustain. With this in mind, I have made a point to seek out more specialists and resume more intensive testing. In relation to this post, after waiting many months I was able to schedule sessions with a well-regarded GI specialist in my city that has the expertise to better identify my diagnosis. They have made it clear to me that given the nature of my current symptoms and what they have identified with less intensive rounds of tests, they believe it is incredibly important that I undergo a further colonoscopy ASAP. She is concerned that for my relatively young age, the symptoms are especially worrying. And while there is always the likelihood that it is a condition that is more banal, or more severe but treatable like Crohn’s Disease, that there is also the distinct meaningful possibility of colon cancer. Notably the possibility of colon cancer is one that if found early is very treatable but can also be hard to identify as it can provide symptoms like other GI issues at those early stages. Progress can meaningfully occur in a short period of time, and if it progresses to the point where there are more severe symptoms which are specifically representative of colon cancer, it can be too late. From what I have been told, there are just not the same health outcomes at those progressed stages. While I have been able to schedule the procedure with her for the end of this month, it was soon made clear to me that my insurance has denied any coverage for it. Despite my GI Specialist being in network and trying to work with my insurance to advocate for its necessity, that decision has not changed. And if I do not have the procedure this month, given the state I reside in, there is a meaningful chance I won’t be able to for up to a year in the future. Not only is my GI Specialist booked for the rest of the year into next, but there is also a severe shortage of GI specialists in my area, so finding another with availability will be equally as challenging.