It’s always a tough decision at benefit re-enrollment time to figure out how much money to put into your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for the next year. Put in too little and you miss out on pre-tax savings and convenience. Put in too much and you’ve just thrown money away.

If you have leftover FSA money, Suburban Imaging has several beneficial health screenings and exams that may be of interest to you.

CT Lung Screening – for current or former smokers
A chest CT lung cancer screening is a low-dose (low-radiation) chest CT exam used to detect early stage lung cancer before signs or symptoms appear.

If you are over the age of 50 and a current or former tobacco user (cigarettes, cigars or pipes), you may be at risk for lung cancer. Other factors include:

• Exposure to second-hand smoke
• Exposure to asbestos or radon

Chest CT lung cancer screenings are not covered by most insurance companies. The cost of a screening is $225.00.

Heartview Scan – measures plaque in coronary arties
A Heartview scan (or cardiac calcium scoring), is a quick and non-invasive test that uses a CT exam to detect and measure the amount of calcium in your coronary arteries, an indicator of heart disease. Cardiac Calcium Scoring can detect calcium deposits before they get large enough to obstruct the blood vessel.

An appropriate candidate is male, age 35-70, or female, age 40-70, who has any of the following factors:

• Family history of heart disease
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Overweight

The cost of a screening is $275.00, although some insurance plans now pay for Cardiac Calcium Scoring with a physician’s referral. Please check with your insurance company.

Virtual Colonoscopy – important colorectal screening for anyone over age 50
To screen for colon cancer, a colonoscopy is recommended starting at age 50 and then every 10 years by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Virtual colonoscopy is a far less invasive alternative to conventional endoscopic colonoscopy. Using state-of-the-art medical imaging, radiologists are able to detect polyps without subjecting you to the risks, pain and inconvenience associated with conventional colonoscopy. While colonoscopy is usually covered by insurance, not all providers cover virtual colonoscopy. Please check with your insurance company.

Varicose Veins/Spider Veins Treatments
Suburban Imaging’s interventional radiologists offer consultations and treatments for varicose veins and spider veins. Varicose veins are enlarged veins that become visible underneath the skin and appear elongated, bulging and rope-like. Spider veins are smaller than varicose veins and look like red or blue spider webs near the surface of the skin.

The following treatments are available:

• Sclerotherapy for spider veins
• Venous ablation for varicose veins
• Ambulatory phlebectomy for varicose veins

You do not need a doctor’s referral for a consultation or treatment. Treatment may be covered by your insurance company if you experience pain or other symptoms. If being performed for cosmetic reasons, coverage is usually denied.