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Cancer prevention, screenings and FSAs
One of the most important components of preventative health care is screening for life-threatening diseases like cancer. And when it comes to beating cancer, detecting and treating it early on can dramatically increase your chances of survival.
The goal of these preventative screenings is to catch any signs as early as possible, which gives your medical team the best chance of effectively treating - and defeating - the disease.
September and October represent awareness months for several types of cancer, and that means prevention. Since the ACA has ruled that preventive care is covered by insurance, additional costs don't often occur when it comes to cancer screenings. If there are any additional costs, however, they should be eligible for FSA reimbursement.
(Please note: All plans are different. Be sure to check with your administrator to see what your plan will allow.)
What kind of screenings are done?
Since there are so many different kinds of cancer, there are a variety of different screenings that can be done as a part of preventative care. Depending on factors like age, gender, and family history, your doctor will determine when and how often you should be screened.
Self-screening is important too, and your doctor will advise you on what to look out for and when you should report to a medical professional for further tests. Some common examples of cancer screenings include:
Skin cancer
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, as well as amongst young people. So doctors recommend that you regularly check your skin for irregular growths and schedule an appointment right away if you notice anything of concern.
People who spend a lot of time in direct sunlight are at an even higher risk for the disease, so this is even more important to do if your job or recreational activities have you outside on a regular basis.
To test for skin cancer, a dermatologist will examine your skin. If it's suspected that an area might be cancerous, a biopsy of the tissue will be conducted. Any costs associated with these tests will be eligible for reimbursement.
Breast and gynecological cancer
For women, breast cancer and ovarian cancer screenings are an important part of regular preventive care. It's recommended that healthy women with few risk factors begin getting screened regularly at age 40, but a doctor may recommend that these screenings begin earlier if you have certain risk factors.
If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, your doctor may recommend a BRCA test, which is a blood test that checks your DNA for mutations in certain genes which can indicate whether you're likely to develop cancer. Unlike other genetic tests, the BRCA screening is done solely for medical purposes, so it's eligible for reimbursement without a Letter of Medical Necessity (although we always advise that you check on your FSA details with your plan administrator or HR department to ensure that your plan covers all qualified medical expenses).
Other screenings, like mammograms and digital infrared thermal imaging, are also eligible for reimbursement.
Prostate cancer
Men, on the other hand, should be screened for prostate cancer. Most medical professionals recommend that screenings begin regularly by age 50, but may also suggest that screenings begin earlier if certain risk factors are present.
To screen for prostate cancer, your doctor may recommend a Digital Rectal Exam, which identifies abnormalities in the gland, as well as a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, which is a blood test that measures PSA levels. Elevated levels can be a sign of cancer or an enlarged prostate. If your insurance doesn't cover any of the costs associated with these types of screenings, they should be eligible for reimbursement.
Colon cancer
Colonoscopies are done to determine whether or not polyps are present in the colon. Polyps can evolve into malignant tumors, so detecting them early on is important. Depending on risk factors, most doctors recommend that people start getting screened for colon cancer on a regular basis by age 50.
Since a colonoscopy is a preventative screening, it should be covered by your primary health insurance plan. Any additional costs will be eligible for FSA reimbursement.
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