1-833-GI-HEALTH

AppointmentsDirect Colonoscopy

Skip the office visit

Healthy and 45 or older? Book your colonoscopy directly.

Answer a 5-minute questionnaire. If you qualify, you can schedule your screening colonoscopy online today, with no consultation needed first.

Begin the Questionnaire

About 5 minutes. Your health answers stay on your device.

  1. 1
    Answer the questionnaireAbout 5 minutes, covering symptoms and health history.
  2. 2
    Schedule online todayPick your date and time right away, or have our office call you to schedule, usually within 1–2 business days.
  3. 3
    Get your colonoscopyMost patients are seen within 2–3 weeks. Your doctor reviews results with you the same day.

Insurance that qualifies

  • PPO, EPO and POS plansAetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield (including Covered California), Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO (out of state), Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Health Net PPO (employer plans only, not Covered California), and other PPO, EPO and POS plans
  • MedicareOriginal Medicare and Medicare PPO plans
  • OptumOptum patients
  • Regal / LakesideRegal and Lakeside Medical Groups
  • Self-payPaying cash, without insurance

Other HMO plans need a referral from your primary care doctor and an office visit first. Kaiser Permanente members: Direct Access colonoscopy is done at Valley Digestive Health Center, but it must be scheduled through Kaiser’s gastroenterology (GI) department. See all accepted insurance.

Check your insurance with a photo of your card

Not sure your plan qualifies? Take or upload a photo of your insurance card. We’ll check right away, and if it qualifies, your insurance is filled in on the questionnaire for you.

Front of the card

You may qualify if you

  • Are 45 to 75 years old and due for screening
  • Have no digestive symptoms
  • Are not taking blood thinners, such as warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, or Plavix
  • Have a body mass index (BMI) under 45
  • Have no serious heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease (see the list)
  • Have someone to drive you home after sedation

See a GI doctor first if you have

  • Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
  • Unexplained belly pain, weight loss, or ongoing changes in bowel habits
  • Trouble swallowing, uncontrolled heartburn, or a positive Cologuard test
  • A heart attack or heart stent in the last year, or congestive heart failure
  • A blood clot in the lungs (PE) or legs (DVT) in the last 6 months
  • Severe COPD or other serious lung disease, home oxygen, or severe sleep apnea
  • A BMI of 45 or higher, or you use a wheelchair full-time
  • Kidney failure on dialysis, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, or a bleeding disorder

Not sure? The questionnaire will tell you. Book an office visit if you don’t qualify.

Your colonoscopy doctors

Every direct access colonoscopy is performed by one of our gastroenterologists.

Ken D. Nguyen, MDKen D. Nguyen, MDEnglish, VietnameseGrew up in the San Gabriel Valley. Trained at Boston University, Cedars-Sinai, and UT Southwestern. Focuses on colon and stomach cancer screening and liver disease.View profile → Tim (Tien-Chun) Chen, MDTim (Tien-Chun) Chen, MDEnglish, MandarinTrained at UT Southwestern and Baylor College of Medicine. Focuses on therapeutic endoscopy, viral hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.View profile → Dana Pan, MD, MHADana Pan, MD, MHAEnglish, Mandarin, Medical SpanishTrained at Saint Louis University, Cedars-Sinai, and UC Davis. Focuses on colon cancer screening, inflammatory bowel disease, and pancreas and liver disease.View profile →
Valley Digestive Health Center in Arcadia

Where it’s done

Valley Digestive Health Center
488 E Santa Clara St #102, Arcadia, CA 91006
(626) 264-8065

An outpatient endoscopy center, minutes from our Temple City office. You’ll do the bowel prep at home the day before, and you’ll need a driver.

Start the Questionnaire

Questions? Call 626-898-4560.

Referring provider? Direct access for physicians

Direct Access Colonoscopy FAQ

Do I need an office visit before a direct access colonoscopy?

No, not if you qualify. You answer a short online questionnaire instead, and if you qualify you can schedule your colonoscopy online right away, or have our team call you to schedule.

What insurance qualifies for direct access colonoscopy?

PPO plans, Medicare, Optum, and Regal/Lakeside Medical Group. Other HMO plans need a referral from your primary care doctor and an office visit first.

How much will I pay out of pocket for a colonoscopy?

Most patients pay $0 out of pocket for a screening colonoscopy when they are 45 or older, have no symptoms, and have it no more often than every 10 years. Every insurance plan is different, so please call the member services number on your insurance card to confirm your coverage before your procedure. A colonoscopy done for symptoms, or sooner than 10 years after your last one, may be subject to your deductible and copay.

How soon can I get my colonoscopy?

You can pick your date and time online as soon as you qualify. If you would rather have our team call you to schedule, we usually reach you within 1–2 business days. Most patients have their colonoscopy within 2–3 weeks.

Where is the colonoscopy done?

At Valley Digestive Health Center, 488 E Santa Clara St #102, Arcadia, CA 91006, an outpatient endoscopy center minutes from our Temple City office.

What medical conditions mean I need an office visit first?

A heart attack or heart stent in the last year; congestive heart failure; a blood clot (PE or DVT) in the last 6 months; severe COPD or other serious lung disease; home oxygen; severe sleep apnea; a BMI of 45 or higher; being wheelchair dependent; or kidney failure on dialysis. Digestive symptoms such as bleeding, unexplained pain, or weight loss also need a visit first.

What if I don’t qualify?

You will be guided to an office visit with one of our gastroenterologists first. Book a visit or call 626-898-4560.