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Highlights the value of preventive care and regular health screenings in protecting long-term health. The piece covers key screenings that support early detection, help manage chronic conditions, and reduce the risk of serious illness. It also emphasizes how immunizations, routine checkups, and lifestyle guidance strengthen overall well-being. By staying proactive with preventive care, patients gain clearer insight into their health and greater support in maintaining a healthier future.
The natural aging process comes with an increased risk of developing certain chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancers. While traditionally people would only present to the doctor when they felt sick, it is becoming increasingly important for patients to obtain routine care to maintain their health.
Preventive care includes services to prevent, diagnose, and treat medical conditions before they become a serious problem. This can reduce overall healthcare costs and lead to a healthier, longer life. Despite the numerous benefits of preventive care, many Americans do not receive the recommended screenings and services. Understanding the importance of regular check-ups, vaccinations, and early detection can make a significant difference in health outcomes. For more detailed information on how to effectively manage your healthcare needs, you can explore our resource on comprehensive primary care and its benefits. By staying informed and proactive, individuals can better navigate their healthcare journey and take full advantage of the preventive services available to them.
In this article, we will describe what is preventive care, the different screenings and services it includes, and other important considerations that can keep you and your family healthy.
Preventive healthcare services describe a broad range of actions patients and providers can take to help prevent and manage chronic health conditions. These actions can include screening tests and labs, preventative medicine and vaccines, and patient behaviors and dietary modifications.
Preventive care can be initiated at your Medicare annual wellness visit or preventive check-up with your primary care doctor. The care provided typically falls within one of these three types of preventive care.
Regardless of the type of preventive care, your primary care provider is essential in helping arrange, educate, and review all your preventative healthcare needs.
Preventive healthcare services for adults include screenings for chronic health conditions; vaccinations for flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia; and counseling measures to promote healthy lifestyles. Depending on age and family history, certain screening tests and counseling measures will be recommended by your primary care physician. These can include:
Preventive care is utilized in children to identify conditions that can benefit from early treatment or interventions, as well as prevent serious illnesses. During childhood, wellness checks are scheduled at appropriate screening intervals and promote healthy childhood development.
The most common screening and preventative measures used in children include:
Scheduling a preventative check-up can be one of the most beneficial actions to better your health. Whether it is a Medicare wellness exam or telehealth visit, obtaining preventive care can provide the following benefits.
Most healthcare plans are required to cover preventative care without the need to pay a copay or deductible. While certain screening tests have age requirements (i.e., mammograms starting at 40 years of age), your annual physical or wellness exam for Medicare is available for all eligible patients.
During a Medicare annual wellness visit, your provider can help determine all the screening tests required each year and provide the referrals to aid in setting up those appointments. This can ensure you are maximizing your health insurance benefits and obtaining the best care possible.
A preventative test is ordered before you have any symptoms of the disease and is used to screen for the disease. This would include a fasting blood sugar test on your annual exam to screen for diabetes.
However, a diagnostic test is performed to either diagnose a medical condition or to monitor an already diagnosed disease. Using the same example, this would be when your doctor orders a fasting blood sugar test to determine if a new medication is helping your diabetes control (i.e., diabetes has already been diagnosed).
Why does this matter? Insurance companies will often pay for a preventative test without requiring a copay or deductible. But for diagnostic tests, according to your specific insurance plan, a copay or deductible could apply to the service.
Preventative care is one of the most influential measures one can take on their health and is a major focus of Complete Health practitioners. These services are used to identify areas needing improvement and detect diseases when they are easier to treat. This allows our patients to live healthier, longer lives and reduce their overall healthcare spending.
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