Routine checkups and screenings can help you avoid serious health problems. Preventive visits to your doctor provide a vital opportunity to manage your overall health and help you reach your personal wellness goals. Did I mention that better health may lower your health care costs, too?
Under Health Care Reform, preventive care services are free with no cost-sharing. Can you think of a reason not to have preventive care treatment?
What is preventive care?
Preventive care focuses on maintaining your health, and establishing your baseline health status. During your preventive visit your doctor will determine what tests or screenings are appropriate for you based on many factors such as your age, gender, overall health status, personal health history and your current symptoms or chronic health concerns. Preventive care can help you avoid potentially serious health conditions and/or obtain early diagnosis and treatment. Generally, the sooner your doctor can identify and treat a medical condition, the better the outcome.
Your preventive treatment may include many types of exams, subject to age and gender guidelines, including:
- Physician office services: Routine physical examinations, Well baby and well child care, immunizations
- Lab, X-ray or health screening tests: Screening mammography, screening colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, cervical cancer screening, prostate cancer screening, osteoporosis screening
What is NOT considered preventive care?
Medical treatment for specific health conditions, on-going care, lab or other tests necessary to manage or treat a medical issue or health condition are considered diagnostic care or treatment, and are not preventive care.
Scheduling a preventive health visit and talking with your doctor will provide the most effective source of information about your health.
For more information, check out http://www.healthcare.gov/prevention/index.html.
