Recently, the AZV Executive Body together with the ABO Foundation, HAVA (Association of General Practitioners of Aruba), and the Ministry of Health and Elderly Care have noted a concern among our elderly regarding stool tests, referring to the belief that people over 75 years of age are not entitled to stool tests. As we understand the concern, we are providing a clarification with the goal of bringing peace of mind to AZV insured persons and the community in general.
The AZV insurance was introduced primarily for curative care. According to the AZV Law, all insured persons, regardless of their age, may discuss their symptoms (complaints) with their general practitioner. Once the general practitioner determines it is medically necessary, the guidelines of the Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap (Dutch College of General Practitioners) are followed, and there is a possibility to perform stool tests. In cases where it is necessary, the general practitioner will refer the patient to a specialist. This is the normal procedure; valid for all insured persons regardless of age.
However, within the same AZV Law, there is the possibility for the AZV Executive Body to cover what is called 2nd or 3rd-degree preventive care, provided that the population screening program is scientifically proven. In the context of early cancer detection, the AZV Executive Body, together with the ABO Foundation, has had a population-based bowel cancer screening program (CORESA) since 2025, which is available to the group of people aged 45 to 75. The target group (aged 45 to 75) was determined carefully and is based on international recommendations, widely argued, and with the involvement of local and international medical professionals, who concluded that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The laboratory tests of this bowel cancer screening program (CORESA) are considered “the first step” and may result in various other advanced tests to find out whether a person has bowel cancer or not.
What is important to understand is that a population program for early cancer detection is always based on a specific age group (target group) and has its own process. However, that does not mean that a person outside the target group cannot be helped. Persons outside the target group should always consult their general practitioner. The AZV Executive Body, together with the ABO Foundation, HAVA, and the Ministry of Public Health and Elderly Care, continue to work hard together to optimize medical care for all AZV insured persons.
For more information regarding population programs for breast cancer (BOB), cervical cancer (BOCA), or bowel cancer (CORESA): you may contact the ABO Foundation at 5881212.
For more information if you have symptoms but do not fall into the target group of the bowel cancer screening program (whether younger than 45 or older than 75): you may contact your general practitioner.
For more information regarding AZV insurance: you may contact AZV at 5279900.