What is Preventative Care?
Preventative care is similar to an annual check-up, but the key difference is that a preventative care visit is more extensive and thorough. However, both are important for maintaining personal health. The goal of preventative care is to identify an illness or disease in its earliest stages. In doing so, professional care providers can:
- Treat the illness early on
- Monitor the illness’s progression
- Help protect your body from major health problems
Why Is Preventative Care Important?
By catching both serious and minor conditions early on, preventative care can make treatment easier and less costly. It is important to receive preventative care because not all illnesses, diseases, and disorders may be instantly noticeable or apparent. Preventative care screenings are crucial to detecting illnesses that may go unnoticed in the body for years. High blood pressure is an example of an illness that can lead to serious complications if it is left ignored and untreated.
What Does Preventative Care Consist Of?
Preventative care consists of screenings. The screenings look for indicators of a developing disease or illness. This helps doctors plan courses of treatment, especially if the patient is diagnosed with a disease linked to serious conditions or health complications. For example, women’s preventive care screenings will rule out or detect cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, and sexually transmitted diseases/infections. By catching certain illnesses early on, unwanted health complications can be prevented. Most insurance providers cover preventative care screenings at no charge.
Here is a list of common preventative care screenings and services:
- Alcohol misuse screenings
- Annual physicals
- Depression screenings
- Breast cancer mammogram screenings (taken every one to two years for women over the age of 40)
- Tobacco screenings
- Blood pressure screenings
- Diet counseling for adults at high risk of chronic disease
- Cholesterol screenings
Disclaimer: these are only several of the preventative care options that you may be able to access at no extra charge through your insurance provider.
How Do I Know What Preventative Care I Need and When?
General preventative care is recommended for everyone. For women, we recommend an annual preventive screening from your primary care physician or OB-GYN. Scheduling a preventative care visit allows your medical provider to evaluate your overall health. Moreover, they will conduct the appropriate screenings based on your age, gender, and family history. A preventative care visit is a good way to take care of yourself and avoid long-term complications.
Since each person is unique, every person has different healthcare needs and some people need more help than others. We recommend speaking with your provider to discuss your individual needs.
FAQs About Preventative Care
What is the difference between a preventative care visit and a regular check-up?
Preventative care visits and regular check-ups are very similar. Both of these appointments examine your overall health. However, preventative care visits take things a step further. Screenings are conducted, which rule out many worrisome conditions and diseases. Preventative care visits also take place in the patient’s home, instead of the physician’s clinic or office. Our physicians and nurse practitioners at Community Healthcare Partners conduct preventative care visits in the home. We come to you, not the other way around. Rest assured that you will be taken care of just as well as, if not better than, you would be in the office.
How can I find out what my insurance covers?
The best way to find out what your insurance covers is to reach out to your insurance carrier. Tell them you would like to discuss coverage. As a rule of thumb, always contact your insurance carrier with insurance-related questions. As insurance providers, they will be better able to explain the nuances and benefits of your specific insurance plan. They also can help you file an out-of-network claim. It is also worth noting that Community Healthcare Partners refers all clients with insurance coverage inquiries to their insurance carrier. With that said, please contact your insurance company for information on coverage, out-of-network claims, and which providers may be in-network.
What does a depression screening look like?
A depression screening is no different from a pen-and-paper survey. This questionnaire will help your primary care physician determine if you are at risk for a wide range of mental illnesses.
Who should consider getting preventative care?
Everyone should consider getting preventative care! At Community Healthcare Partners, our well-trained medical professionals will conduct a preventative care visit within the comfort of your home. Save yourself the drive by letting us come to you. We will make sure you are well taken care of.