Bowel Health
Why get involved?
It is common to have no symptoms of bowel cancer. If you’re aged 45-59, with no symptoms, international studies tell us the best way to keep a check on your bowel health is to do a screening test. If the test is positive a colonoscopy is the next step.
What does the screening test check for?
The screening test used in the pilot programme checks for blood in your stool, which may not be visible. It is a simple test that can be done at home which will produce one line for a negative result, and two for a positive one. There is no need to send samples to a lab with the associated long waits. Called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT), the test is very similar to a Covid-19 RAT test, and easy to do in the comfort of your own home. There’s no special diet or prep to do before the test and no long wait to get your results. Within minutes you will see either one red line (negative), or two red lines (positive) on the test cassette.
What happens if I get a positive test?
A positive result does not necessarily mean you have bowel cancer. The test can detect tiny traces of blood present in your bowel motion. There can be other reasons you have blood in your bowel like polyps or haemorrhoids (piles). The follow up with a colonoscopy is critical to look for pre-cancerous polyps or early bowel cancer. Picking it up early increases the chances it can be successfully treated. If the specialist finds a cancer you will be referred for treatment.
What happens if I get a negative test?
If your test is negative, this means you don’t need any further investigation at this time. But even after a negative test, if you develop symptoms or concerns, it is important to see your GP so that nothing important is missed.
Why are we starting at age 45? And why cut off at age 59?
Bowel cancer screening such as a FIT test (stool test checking for microscopic blood) is recommended and supported from the age of 45. This is where the current evidence suggests there is the greatest benefit to patients as a whole. Under 45 years old, bowel cancer is less common. The FIT test is more likely to be a false positive (i.e., the test is positive, but there is no bowel cancer or advanced polyps). Anyone aged 60 and older is eligible for the national public screening programme and should either have received a test in the post or contact their GP to get involved if they wish to get involved.
How is this different to the national bowel screening programme?
The public national bowel screening programme is for those aged between 60 – 74. Our pilot is specifically targeting a younger cohort that are not eligible for the national programme. The pilot will test whether screening in the younger 45-59 age group is a value add for our members. The test used in this pilot is also different to the national public programme. The FIT provides an instant result that does not need to be analysed by a lab, whereas in the national programme participants need to wait a few weeks for a result.
What if I have symptoms?
Although under 45 years old bowel cancer is less common, it is increasing in incidence.
Therefore, at any age, if you have new gut symptoms:
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Bleeding from the bottom or visible blood mixed into the stool
- A sustained change in your usual bowel habit (i.e., new constipation or diarrhoea)
Unexplained weight loss, or
- Iron deficiency anaemia on a blood test from your GP (i.e. low blood count and iron level)
You should discuss this with your usual family doctor who may refer you on for further testing. This would not be with a FIT stool test.
If you have no symptoms, but have a family history of colon cancer, particularly in a first degree relative (i.e., Mum, Dad, sibling) it is suggested you get a colonoscopy at 10 years before the age at which they were diagnosed. For example, if your relative was diagnosed age 50, it is suggested to have a colonoscopy at 40.
How will this count against my policy?
The FIT kit and any nurse support is provided at no extra cost to you and won’t be registered as a claim against your policy. Any other services and/or treatments - such as a colonoscopy - will be claimed against your Southern Cross policy in the normal way. Depending on your chosen policy, this means exclusions (including pre-existing conditions),excesses, co-payments, benefit limits, and/or low claim discount adjustments may apply.
What is the criteria to take part?
The criteria to take part is the following:
- Must be a Southern Cross member
- Must be between ages of 45-59
- Must have a plan with surgical cover*
- Must not have had a colonoscopy in the past 5 years
- Must not have any pre-existing conditions relating to bowel health
*Your ability to claim for further investigation and treatment following a positive FIT result, may be impacted if you (i) do not currently have health insurance with Southern Cross or (ii) have taken it up within the last six months (with a full medical declaration). This is because we may be required to investigate your medical history.
Can a member of my whanau/family (partner/spouse/parent/grandparent/child) take part?
Provided your family member is a Southern Cross member on an appropriate plan with surgical cover (RegularCare, KiwiCare, Wellbeing One, Wellbeing Two or UltraCare) and they meet all the other eligibility criteria listed above they can join. Family members must register themselves using the link provided and must request the test to be posted to their chosen address. Employees cannot register family members onto the programme and employees cannot collect a test on behalf of a family member.
I'm not eligible to join the programme, but a member of my whanau/family is. Can they join the programme even though I can’t?
As above, if the family member is on an appropriate plan and meets the criteria they can join the programme. The employee does not have to be eligible for the family member to also join.
I am not a Southern Cross member. Can I sign up and join the programme?
You can always apply to join us. Just get in touch with your Southern Cross field sales representative or call 0800 438 268. They can discuss the application process that will apply depending on how long you've been working with your employer. Once your application is accepted, we can advise you whether you're eligible to join the pilot.
Your ability to claim for further investigation and treatment following a positive FIT result, may be impacted if you (i) do not currently have health insurance with Southern Cross or (ii) have taken it up within the last six months (with a full medical declaration). This is because we may be required to investigate your medical history.
My family member is not a Southern Cross policy holder. Can they sign up and join the programme?
Your family members can always apply to join Southern Cross! Your spouse/partner or dependents aged under 21 can apply to join on your policy. Other family members can apply for their own policy. Once your family is covered by a Southern Cross policy with surgical cover, we can advise them whether they are eligible to take part in the pilot programme.
Their ability to claim for further investigation and treatment following a positive FIT result, may be impacted if they (i) do not currently have health insurance with Southern Cross or (ii) have taken it up within the last six months (with a full medical declaration). This is because we may be required to investigate their medical history.
Why do I have to go to the specified endoscopy clinic?
We are piloting a new way of providing bowel health services and have partnered with specific clinics to provide this service. If you have a positive result on your FIT and wish to see a different endoscopist you may do so and claim under your policy, but this will be outside of the pilot. A MedPro nurse will support you to get referred back to your GP and your GP can refer you to your chosen endoscopy clinic. We are working with Southern Cross Healthcare, MedPro, Waitemata Endoscopy (North Shore, Auckland), Rutherford Clinic (Lower Hutt), Southern Endoscopy (Christchurch) along with colorectal surgeons and oncologists in the relevant regions to deliver this pilot.
I live far away from any of the partner endoscopy clinics. What options are available for me?
A MedPro nurse will write a referral to your GP and your GP will support you to find a local endoscopy clinic that is more convenient for you. Thereafter, the MedPro nurse will hand over your care to your GP and your chosen endoscopy clinic.
How will you be using my health information and data during this pilot?
Your health information relevant to the pilot may be shared between Southern Cross Health Insurance, Southern Cross Healthcare, MedPro, colonoscopy clinics and other providers who are involved in your care such as imaging clinics and specialists. The information will only be used for the purposes of administering, reporting and evaluation of the pilot. Medpro will collate clinical results from all those involved in your care and present them to pilot partners with names and identifiers removed. Before you sign up to the pilot a full privacy statement will be made available to you.