Free and Low-Cost Colonoscopy: CDC Programs, FQHCs, and Charity Care

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the US, according to the CDC — and it’s highly preventable with regular screening. The barrier for too many adults isn’t access to a GI physician. It’s the bill.

If you’re uninsured, underinsured, or on a tight budget, there are real programs that cover colonoscopy at $0 or minimal cost. Most people skip them because they don’t know they exist. Here’s where they are and how to access them.

1. The CDC Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP)

The CDC funds the Colorectal Cancer Control Program, which pays for colorectal cancer screening — including colonoscopy — for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured adults aged 45 to 75 in participating states.

Who qualifies: Income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (roughly $37,500 for a single adult in 2026), uninsured or underinsured, average-risk for colorectal cancer.

What’s covered: Colonoscopy (including diagnostic follow-up if a stool test is positive), stool-based tests (FIT, gFOBT), and necessary follow-up.

Where: CRCCP partners with health centers, hospitals, and community organizations in participating states. Not every state has a funded program — coverage depends on CDC grant cycles.

How to access it:

1. Search for CRCCP programs at cdc.gov/cancer/crccp
2. Call the CDC Cancer Information Service: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
3. Contact your state health department’s cancer control program directly

2. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

FQHCs are federally funded community health centers required by law to offer care on a sliding fee scale — meaning your cost is based on your income, not a fixed price. No patient is turned away for inability to pay.

Under the sliding fee scale:

• Patients at or below 100% FPL: typically $0 to $20 for services
• Patients at 101–200% FPL: small co-payments based on income
• Patients at 201%+ FPL: may pay more but still at a discount

Some FQHCs perform colonoscopy on-site in their own endoscopy suite. Others refer patients to a contracted GI practice or ASC at a negotiated rate that still qualifies for the sliding fee discount.

How to find one: findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov — enter your zip code and filter for services including GI or surgical specialty.

Call ahead and ask:

• “Do you perform colonoscopy here or refer out?”
• “If referred, is the colonoscopy covered under my sliding fee arrangement?”
• “What income documentation do I need to bring?”

3. Hospital Financial Assistance / Charity Care Programs

Every nonprofit hospital in the US that has 501(c)(3) status is legally required to have a charity care or financial assistance program. This requirement is part of the Affordable Care Act’s hospital tax-exemption rules.

Hospital charity care for colonoscopy:

• Typically covers patients under 200–400% FPL (varies by hospital)
• Can reduce your bill by 50–100% depending on income
• Covers facility fees — may not automatically cover the separate physician or anesthesia bills (ask)

How to apply:

1. After scheduling your procedure (or after receiving a bill), call the hospital’s billing or financial assistance office
2. Ask specifically for “charity care” or “financial assistance” — not just a “payment plan”
3. Complete their financial assistance application (usually requires proof of income and any assets)
4. Apply before your procedure if possible — some hospitals will estimate and waive costs before you’re seen

4. State Cancer Screening Programs

Beyond the federal CRCCP, many states run their own colorectal cancer screening programs funded through state budgets, tobacco settlement funds, or other sources. These programs often serve a slightly different income bracket than the CDC program.

States with strong independent programs include: New York (Cancer Services Program), California (Every Woman Counts — primarily cervical/breast, but some GI referrals), Texas (Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas grantees), and Illinois (Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program with some CRC components).

Your state health department’s cancer control division is the right starting point. A web search for “[your state] colorectal cancer screening free program” often surfaces state-specific options faster than navigating federal websites.

5. Clinical Trial Recruitment

GI research programs and academic medical centers sometimes offer free or subsidized colonoscopy to patients who qualify for research protocols. Studies might be examining:

• New polyp detection techniques
• Bowel preparation protocols
• Colonoscopy quality metrics
• Colorectal cancer risk factors in specific populations

The procedure is performed by trained gastroenterologists and costs you nothing if you qualify. Search clinicaltrials.gov using search terms like “colonoscopy” and your location to find active trials.

6. Negotiated Cash Prices at FQHCs

Even if you don’t qualify for the lowest sliding fee tier, FQHC pricing is often dramatically lower than market rates. A patient at 300% FPL might pay $150 for a colonoscopy that would cost $2,500 at a private hospital. That’s not free, but it’s dramatically more accessible.

The Bottom Line

If you’re uninsured and your income is under $40,000 for a single adult (or comparable for larger households), there’s a real probability you can get a colonoscopy for free or under $50. The CRCCP and FQHC sliding fee scales exist precisely for this situation. The system is underfunded and you may need to call more than one place — but the programs are real and the savings are total.

Start with findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov to find your nearest FQHC, and check cdc.gov/cancer/crccp for a CRCCP partner near you. For other cost-reduction strategies that work even with private insurance, see how to reduce colonoscopy cost.