What To Cover At Your Annual Check Up Appointment

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This proverb dates back to the 13th century and was popularized by Benjamin Franklin in the 1700s. [1] Annual check-ups (also known as an annual physical exam or annual exam) are an important part of prevention.

What Is an Annual Check-Up?

An annual check-up is a health maintenance exam. It gives you an opportunity to develop a relationship with your healthcare provider and also to catch potential health problems before they become more severe. You can frequently find problems even before they cause symptoms. The goal is to check your overall health and routine health maintenance.

During an annual checkup, your healthcare provider will review your personal and family health history. This is an opportunity to mention any changes that you’ve noticed in your health recently. Your healthcare provider may also ask about lifestyle and health habits such as diet, exercise, and whether you use cigarettes or alcohol. [2]

The physical exam may consist of getting vital signs, measuring your height and weight, and doing an age-appropriate exam of your heart, lungs, and other bodily organs. Depending on your age, gender, and other risk factors, your annual exam may include things like a pelvic exam.

Your healthcare provider will order any appropriate laboratory studies and preventative screening procedures such as a mammogram or colonoscopy. [3] While it is important to mention any concerns or health changes to your healthcare provider, an annual checkup isn’t the time to address all of your health problems. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you make a separate appointment to address specific problems to ensure that your problems have the time they deserve.

What Is Covered at an Annual Check-up?

Most insurance plans are required to cover preventative health services under the Affordable Care Act. Preventative services covered include evidence-based preventative services and routine immunizations. [4,5] The recommended preventative health services vary based on your gender, age, and other risk factors. Guidelines for appropriate screening are recommended by the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Cervical Cancer Screening

The USPSTF recommends cervical cancer screening every three years in people with a cervix aged 21 to 29 years and an average risk of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer screening is done with a pap smear, which consists of putting a speculum in the vagina and examining the cervix while using a brush to obtain a sample of the cells. The sample can be examined under a microscope for abnormalities. The sample can also be tested for a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV), which is responsible for the majority of cases of cervical cancer. [6,7] You could also consider an at-home HPV lab test.

In people with a cervix between the ages of 30 and 65, the testing may be performed every 5 years. Over the age of 65, if you have had adequate screening and are at a low risk for cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening is no longer necessary. [6]

Breast Cancer Screening

Breast cancer screening is recommended in average-risk women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) beginning at age 40. Screening is recommended every other year. [8] People who are at an increased risk of breast cancer, such as those with a family history of breast cancer or those with a known genetic mutation associated with breast cancer, should discuss their screening options with their healthcare provider.

Colon Cancer Screening

Colon cancer is the third leading cause of death in both men and women. [9] The USPSTF recommends colon cancer screening starting at age 45 in average-risk individuals. The options for colon cancer screening range from stool cards to look for trace blood in the stool to a colonoscopy, which is a camera inserted in the rectum that is advanced to the right colon and withdrawn while looking for polyps and cancers. The frequency of tests varies, and your healthcare provider can help you determine which test is right for you.

Diabetes Screening

Diabetes is an extremely common disease that is more common in people who are obese or overweight. The USPSTF recommends screening for prediabetes and diabetes in people aged 35 to 70 years who are overweight or obese. If you are diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes, then your healthcare provider may recommend preventative interventions. [10] If you're monitoring your blood sugar, you could consider an HbA1c test.

Cardiovascular Screening

Cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and strokes increase in frequency as you get older. Screening for high blood pressure usually occurs every time you see your healthcare professional. There is currently no recommendation for routine stress testing or electrocardiogram (EKG) screening in other people who do not have symptoms of heart disease. [11] Cholesterol testing and medications to lower cholesterol may be recommended if you have certain risk factors. [12]

What Should You Ask Your Healthcare Provider at an Annual Check-up?

During your annual check-up, your healthcare provider will likely give you an opportunity to ask questions. This is your opportunity to be an informed and active participant in your healthcare. Some questions you may consider asking include [13]:

• Do I need any immunizations?
• What health conditions am I at risk for?
• What can I do to improve my health?
• What do the test results and vital numbers mean?

Can You Do Annual Check-ups Online?

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the face of U.S. healthcare. Virtual healthcare and telehealth have become more prevalent and have increased access to healthcare in areas where it has traditionally been less available, such as rural areas. [14,15] Annual check-ups can be done virtually in many cases.

Explore Preventive Healthcare with Everlywell

Annual check-ups are one of the many services that can now be offered virtually in many cases. Telemedicine has opened up options to access healthcare in a more convenient way.

At Everlywell, your health is important to us. We’re proud to offer increased access to healthcare on your terms. We offer routine health exams for men and women, including at-home lab tests. You can schedule a visit with one of our licensed healthcare providers.

If you’re ready to explore preventative health options, schedule a virtual care visit today.

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References

1. Grammarist. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. GRAMMARIST. Published June 4, 2022. Medical Citation URL.
2. Clinic C. Here’s what happens at a yearly Check-Up. Cleveland Clinic. Published June 27, 2024. Medical Citation URL.
3. Heidelbaugh JJ. The Adult Well-Male examination. AAFP. Published December 15, 2018. Medical Citation URL.
4. Background: The Affordable Care Act’s new rules on Preventive Care | CMS. Medical Citation URL.
5. Preventive health services. HealthCare.gov. Medical Citation URL.
6. Cervical cancer: screening. Published August 21, 2018. Medical Citation URL.
7. Riley M, Dobson M, Jones E, Kirst N. Health maintenance in women. AAFP. Published January 1, 2013. Medical Citation URL.
8. Breast cancer: screening. Published May 9, 2023. Medical Citation URL.
9. Colorectal cancer: screening. Published May 18, 2021. Medical Citation URL.
10. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: screening. Published August 24, 2021. Medical Citation URL.
11. Cardiovascular disease risk: screening with electrocardiography. Published June 12, 2018. Medical Citation URL.
12. Statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults: preventive medication. Published August 23, 2022. Medical Citation URL.
13. 5 questions to ask at your annual physical exam – BJC HealthCare. Medical Citation URL.
14. Mann DM, Chen J, Chunara R, Testa PA, Nov O. COVID-19 transforms health care through telemedicine: Evidence from the field. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2020;27(7):1132-1135. doi:10.1093/jamia/ocaa072
15. Telehealth Transformation: COVID-19 and the Rise of Virtual Care. Vol 27–6.; 2020:957-962. doi:10.1093/jamia/ocaa067