Understanding Preventive Care

1/1/2021

Maintaining or improving your health with regular preventive care, along with following the advice of your doctor, can help you stay healthy. Routine checkups and screenings can help you avoid serious health problems, allowing you and your doctor to work as a team to manage your overall health, and help you reach your personal health and wellness goals.

What is Preventive Care?

Preventive care focuses on evaluating your current health status when you are symptom free. Preventive care allows you to obtain early diagnosis and treatment, to help avoid more serious health problems. Even if you’re in the best shape of your life, a serious condition with no signs or symptoms may put your health at risk. Through a preventive exam and routine health screenings, your doctor can determine your current health status and detect early warning signs of more serious problems.

Preventive care is designed to help you stay healthy and is covered by most health plans with $0 out-of-pocket when you see a network provider.

Your preventive care services may include immunizations, physical exams, lab work and x-rays. During your preventive visit your doctor will determine what tests or health screenings are right for you based on many factors such as your age, gender, overall health status, personal health history and your current health condition.

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, not preventive care.

Always consult your doctor for your specific preventive health recommendations, as he or she is your most important source of information about your health. Always refer to your plan documents for specific benefit coverage and limitations or call the toll-free member phone number on your ID card.