How to request a kit
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in New Zealand. When detected early, bowel cancer can be highly treatable.
To request an at-home bowel screening kit, just follow these simple steps.
- Check your eligibility: See the criteria below.
- Request a voucher: Fill in the form to request a voucher, which will be emailed to you.
- Pick up your kit: Take your voucher to any participating Unichem or Life Pharmacy.
- Do the test at home: Just a small stool sample, done in privacy.
- Get results: Results are displayed after 5 minutes. If your result is positive, see your doctor for next steps.
Request my bowel screening kit
Request my bowel screening kit
Just a few quick details to get your kit.
Who is eligible?
You are eligible for a bowel screening kit from UniMed, at no additional cost, if:
- You have had three years of continuous cover under your Health Plan
- You have not received a bowel screening kit from UniMed in the past three years
Children do not qualify for this benefit.
If you are aged between 60 to 74 years, bowel screening is offered free every two years through New Zealand’s Bowel Screening Programme and we strongly encourage you to take part in this.
Symptoms always take priority
Patients should seek medical attention if they experience:
- Visible blood in the stool
- Persistent changes in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight loss
- Ongoing abdominal pain or discomfort
- Unexplained iron deficiency anaemia
These symptoms warrant medical assessment regardless of whether the screening result is positive or negative.
Why screen for bowel cancer?
Even if you don’t have symptoms, you could still have an innocent growth called a polyp that could quickly develop into bowel cancer.
Most of us don’t enjoy the thought of taking a poo test but it’s quick and easy to do with the at-home bowel testing kits and it could save your life.
- 1 in 18 Kiwis1 will develop bowel cancer in their lifetime.
- Early-stage bowel cancer often has no symptoms.
- Early detection = 90% survival rate2.
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How early detection made the difference: Irene’s story
Irene, from Auckland, decided to take up our offer of a bowel screening kit, even though she had no symptoms and nothing that suggested anything was wrong. So it came as a real surprise when her test came back positive.
With the support of her Health Plan, Irene went on to have further medical checks and was shocked to discover a large mass growing in her rectum. Thanks to the kit, it was caught early. Without it, Irene might not have found out until it was too late.
"I would like to say thank you for your initiative of the bowel testing kits. I returned a positive result for blood present in the test. Because I have medical insurance with you, I didn’t have to worry about waiting to have an investigation done. I had a colonoscopy today and a large partially obstructive polyp removed. The surgeon said that had it been left, it would have become cancerous. I feel very lucky to have you as my insurer, so again thank you."
FAQ: Bowel Screening Kit
Is a bowel screening kit right for me?
What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?
How often can I request a bowel screening kit?
If I have had a colonoscopy recently, should I still get a kit?
How do I use the at-home bowel screening kit?
Where can I pick up my kit from?
Disclaimer
The at-home bowel screening kit is provided as a benefit for eligible UniMed Members and is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or ongoing care. Like all screening tests, it helps identify people who may require further medical assessment. False positive and false negative results can occur, and a negative result does not guarantee the absence of bowel disease. Use of the kit is entirely voluntary and at the discretion of the individual. Members are strongly encouraged to consult a healthcare professional before using the kit and to discuss any test results, symptoms, or concerns with their doctor.
UniMed facilitates access to health and wellbeing services offered solely by independent third-party providers. We do not supply, endorse, control, or accept any responsibility for those services or for any personal or health information you choose to share with a provider, and—so far as the law allows—we disclaim all liability arising from your use of them. Before engaging, please read the provider’s privacy policy and terms & conditions to ensure the service is appropriate for you. You can read our full Active Benefits and Active Care Terms and Conditions here.
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Disclaimer
UniMed facilitates access to health and wellbeing services offered solely by independent third-party providers. We do not supply, endorse, control, or accept any responsibility for those services or for any personal or health information you choose to share with a provider, and—so far as the law allows—we disclaim all liability arising from your use of them. Before engaging, please read the provider’s privacy policy and terms & conditions to ensure the service is appropriate for you. You can read our full Active Benefits and Active Care Terms and Conditions here.