Not a Medication—A Bowel Preparation Solution

Trilyte (polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution, also known as GoLYTELY) is a solution used to cleanse the colon before colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, barium X-ray, or other GI procedures. It contains polyethylene glycol (a non-absorbable, osmotically active ingredient), electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, and sulfate), and water. The solution passes through the entire GI tract, causing water to be drawn into the bowel, creating a cleansing effect. It’s not absorbed systemically—it passes right through and is excreted.

Trilyte itself is completely non-toxic and creates no systemic health effects. It’s not absorbed into the bloodstream. It doesn’t affect organs, doesn’t cause dependency, and doesn’t carry the risk of side effects like other medications. The solution is used routinely in medical practice with an excellent safety record. Millions of colonoscopies use bowel preps like Trilyte safely every year.

What it is: Preventive screening colonoscopy performed on healthy adults per standard guidelines (typically every 10 years for average-risk adults starting at age 45-50, depending on guidelines). No symptoms. No prior abnormal findings. Just standard preventive care.

Underwriting impact: Zero. Routine preventive colonoscopy is not a concern. It’s appropriate healthcare. No rate impact. No approval concern.

What it is: Follow-up colonoscopy after prior polyp removal or other abnormal findings. Performed at shorter intervals (e.g., every 3-5 years) to monitor for recurrence.

Underwriting impact: Depends on prior findings. If you had benign polyps removed and all is well since, minimal concern. If you have a history of advanced adenomas or other concerning findings, underwriters investigate more carefully.

What it is: Colonoscopy performed because you have symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in stool, weight loss, etc.) or other clinical indications requiring investigation.

Underwriting impact: Underwriters investigate the symptoms and underlying reasons for colonoscopy. If findings are benign (e.g., colonoscopy normal, irritable bowel syndrome confirmed), minimal concern. If significant disease is found (inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, etc.), that disease becomes the underwriting focus.

What it is: Colonoscopy performed to remove polyps, treat bleeding, place stents, or perform other therapeutic interventions.

Underwriting impact: Depends on what was treated. Removal of benign adenomatous polyps: minimal concern. Treatment of colonic bleeding, inflammatory disease, or cancer: that condition becomes the focus.

1. Is This Routine Screening Colonoscopy?

If yes—routine preventive screening with no symptoms or risk factors—underwriting is straightforward. Zero concern. This is appropriate healthcare.

2. Why Are You Having This Procedure?

Routine screening? Symptoms? Prior polyps? Abnormal bleeding? The indication tells underwriters what to investigate.

3. What Were the Results?

Normal exam? Polyps removed? Inflammatory disease found? Cancer? Results determine if further investigation is needed. Normal results = no underwriting concern.

4. Any GI Symptoms?

Chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in stool, weight loss? These symptoms affect underwriting regardless of colonoscopy results.

5. History of Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis? These chronic conditions affect underwriting separately from Trilyte use.

Underwriting impact: Zero. Normal findings on colonoscopy are reassuring and indicate a healthy colon. No rate impact. No approval concern.

Underwriting impact: Minimal. Benign polyps are common and easily removed. Surveillance colonoscopy is the standard follow-up. No rate impact. No approval concern if pathology shows benign findings.

Underwriting impact: Moderate. Advanced adenomas (large polyps, high-grade dysplasia, villous features) indicate higher colon cancer risk. Underwriters may apply modest rate increase and will require close surveillance. But finding and removing advanced adenomas is actually good—it prevents cancer.

Underwriting impact: Significant. A cancer diagnosis affects underwriting substantially. Approval depends on cancer stage, treatment status, and prognosis. This is cancer underwriting, not Trilyte underwriting.

Underwriting impact: Moderate to significant. IBD is a chronic disease requiring ongoing management. Underwriters assess disease severity, control, complications, and current treatment. This becomes the underwriting focus.

Underwriting impact: Depends on the specific finding. Active bleeding: investigated. Diverticulosis: common, usually no impact. Infections or other findings: evaluated based on severity and treatment.

Colonoscopy Report

Copy of your colonoscopy report showing procedure indication, findings, and recommendations. If normal, it shows you have a healthy colon. If abnormal: provides detail on what was found and how it’s being managed.

Pathology Report (if applicable)

If polyps were removed, the pathology results will show whether they were benign or concerning. Benign results are reassuring.

Your Physician’s Summary (if abnormal findings)

If a colonoscopy found abnormalities, a brief note from your gastroenterologist or physician summarizing findings and management plan. This provides context.

Indication for Procedure

Simply state: “Routine screening colonoscopy per age guidelines” (for routine screening) or specific indication if not routine. This helps underwriters understand context.

Be Clear About the Procedure

“I had a routine screening colonoscopy at age [X] (appropriate per guidelines). Results were normal. Trilyte was used for bowel preparation.” Clear and complete.

Emphasize Normal Results

If your colonoscopy was normal: “Normal findings—no polyps, no abnormalities.” This is reassuring and signals a healthy colon.

If Abnormalities Were Found, Be Transparent

“Benign polyps were found and removed. Pathology confirmed benign findings. Surveillance colonoscopy planned in [timeframe].” Transparency and a clear management plan.

Include the Colonoscopy Report

Provide the actual colonoscopy report. It clearly documents findings and demonstrates normal results (if that’s the case).

Apply With Standard Carriers

Trilyte use doesn’t require specialty insurance. Apply with standard carriers. No special underwriting needed.

Routine Screening Colonoscopy, Normal Results

Rate Impact: None. Standard rates apply. Example: A 55-year-old having a routine screening colonoscopy with normal results receives the exact same rate as someone who hasn’t had a colonoscopy.

Routine Screening, Benign Polyps Removed

Rate Impact: None to minimal. Finding and removing benign polyps is good preventive care. May result in zero rate impact or a minimal (0-5%) increase if underwriters want to note close surveillance.

Advanced Adenomas Found

Rate Impact: Minimal to moderate (0-15% above standard). Advanced adenomas indicate increased colon cancer risk despite removal. Underwriters may apply a modest rate increase reflecting ongoing surveillance and slightly higher cancer risk.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Cancer Diagnosed

Rate Impact: Significant (varies by specific condition). IBD or cancer becomes the focus, not Trilyte. Rates reflect the underlying disease, not the bowel prep.

1. Disclose the Procedure

When asked about medical procedures or recent healthcare, mention your colonoscopy. Be straightforward: “I had a routine screening colonoscopy. Results were normal.”

2. Provide the Colonoscopy Report

Include a copy of your colonoscopy report with your application. It documents the procedure and findings. Normal results are reassuring.

3. Emphasize Routine Screening Context

“This was routine preventive screening as recommended per guidelines. No symptoms. No concerns. Results normal.” This frames it appropriately as healthcare maintenance, not investigation of problems.

4. Don’t Overthink It

Trilyte is not a major underwriting issue. For routine screening with normal results, this is essentially a non-event. Apply normally. Apply with any standard carrier.

Will Trilyte use affect my life insurance?

Direct answer: No. Trilyte itself has no insurance impact.

Trilyte is not a chronic medication. It’s a one-time bowel prep for a procedure. It creates zero systemic health effects. No rate impact. Insurance impact depends on colonoscopy findings, not the prep itself.

Will I be declined if I had a colonoscopy?

Direct answer: No. Having a colonoscopy doesn’t disqualify you.

Colonoscopy is routine preventive healthcare. Having one doesn’t result in decline. If normal findings: standard underwriting. If abnormal findings: underwriters investigate the findings, but the procedure itself isn’t the concern.

What if they found polyps?

Direct answer: Benign polyps are common and create minimal insurance concern.

Finding and removing benign adenomatous polyps is good preventive care. No rate impact or minimal impact. Advanced adenomas may result in a slight rate increase reflecting increased surveillance and slightly higher cancer risk. But even this is usually minimal.

Do I have to disclose my colonoscopy?

Direct answer: Yes, if asked about medical procedures or recent healthcare.

If the application asks about medical procedures, include your colonoscopy. Disclosure is required for complete accuracy, though concealing a routine colonoscopy is unlikely to be discovered. But honesty is always best.

Is Trilyte the only bowel prep used?

Direct answer: No, but underwriting is the same for all bowel preps.

Similar preps include GoLYTELY, Golytely, MiraLAX, and others. All are polyethylene glycol-based or other osmotic agents. Underwriters treat all identically—the prep is not the concern; the procedure and findings are.

Can I apply with any carrier?

Direct answer: Yes. Standard carriers work fine.

You don’t need specialty insurance for colonoscopy or Trilyte use. Apply with standard carriers. No special underwriting needed.

How recent should my colonoscopy be when I apply?

Direct answer: Timing isn’t critical for underwriting.

You can apply anytime. If your colonoscopy was very recent (within the past month), you can note that. If it were 2-3 years ago, that’s still relevant. Underwriters just want to know your most recent screening status.