Colorectal Cancer Exams

Are you age 45 or older? TRICARE covers the following based on an average risk for colon cancer.

Screening Type	How Often It’s Covered
Fecal occult blood testingEither guaiac based or immunochemical based testing of three consecutive stool samples	Yearly
Fecal immunochemical testing of one stool sample	Once every 12 months
Optical (conventional) colonoscopy	Once every 10 years
CT colonography	Once every 5 years
Flexible sigmoidoscopy	Once every 5 years
FIT-DNA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved stool DNA tests)	Once every 1 to 3 years
Flexible sigmoidoscopy with FIT	Flexible sigmoidoscopy once every 10 years plus yearly FIT

Who is at average risk?

You’re considered average risk for colon cancer if you don’t have:

• Signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer
• A personal history of colorectal cancer or certain types of polyps
• A family history of colorectal cancer or advanced adenomatous polyps in:
  • At least one first-degree relative, or
  • Multiple second-degree relatives
• A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease. This includes ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
• A confirmed or suspected hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, including:
  • Familial adenomatous polyposis
  • Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer)
• A personal history of getting radiation to the abdomen (belly) or pelvic area to treat a prior cancer

Note: The American Cancer Society no longer maintains guidelines for people at increased or high risk of colorectal cancer. Talk to your provider to determine if you may be at increased or high risk.