Many of us only see a doctor if we have a clear health problem. After all, why would you see a doctor if there was nothing wrong with you?
Well, here’s the catch – sometimes we can experience health problems that don’t display clear symptoms. By the time these health problems do start displaying symptoms, they’ve often got to a point when they’re very serious. By spotting signs of health problems early, you can stop health problems getting to this stage. And the best way to do this is to invest in preventive healthcare.
Local clinics and hospitals offer all kinds of preventive healthcare checks. You will typically be alerted of these by email or text message. Despite such preventive healthcare checks being recommended to us, studies show that only 8% of American adults undergo these recommended health checks.
If more of us started embracing this preventive healthcare, it’s likely that many of us would live longer and happier lives. So why aren’t we doing it?
What does preventive healthcare involve?
Preventive healthcare involves undergoing routine tests to look out for health problems. A few examples include:
- Blood pressure tests
- Eye examinations
- Hearing examinations
- Dental check-ups
- Mammograms
- Pap tests
- Colon cancer screening
- AAA screening
- Blood glucose tests
- Bone density scans
- Skin checks
- Depression screening
- A full body check
Different types of tests are recommended at different points in your life. Certain tests may have to be carried out by a specialist other than a doctor (for example, eye examinations are typically carried out by ophthalmologists).
Vaccinations can also count as preventive healthcare and could immunize you against various illnesses.
What types of preventive healthcare should you prioritize?
It’s best to prioritize health screening that is recommended at your age. For example, a bone density scan is typically not offered to you until you turn 50, because this is when the risk of developing bone diseases like osteoporosis increases.
You should consider your family history too when choosing preventive healthcare to focus on. If there is a history of breast cancer in your family, regular breast examinations could be worth prioritizing due to the added risk.
Some health checks should be carried out quite regularly. For example, you should have an eye examination every 2 years (however, most people don’t).
Is preventive healthcare covered by insurance?
By law, health insurers are obliged to offer 100% cover on most preventative care services once customers become eligible for them. Exceptions include things like dental care and eye exams which usually have to be covered separately by dental insurance or eye insurance.
So if your doctor tells you that you are eligible for a cancer screening or an AAA screening and you have health insurance in place, don’t let the cost put you off. You shouldn’t have to pay for any of it out of your own pocket and it shouldn’t affect your insurance rates (investing in some preventive healthcare checks may actually lower your insurance rates).
Conclusion
More of us should be investing in preventive healthcare. It could save you money and pain in the long run, allowing you to catch health issues early and seek treatment early. And if these tests don’t catch anything, they can still provide peace of mind and may even reduce your insurance premiums.
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