An annual wellness visit with your primary care provider (PCP) is the perfect time to assess and improve your health. During this visit, your doctor can create or update your personalized prevention plan to help you develop and stick to good health habits. Know what to expect during this visit and how to make the most of your time with your doctor.
Remember the old adage – an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Forget the fruit; your annual wellness visit may be key to keeping you healthier. Seeing your doctor before you get sick can help keep you well and catch problems earlier.
Preventive care at no additional cost
Most health plans include an annual wellness visit at little to no cost, although additional costs may be related to any follow-up visits or additional tests that result from preventive care visits.
During your wellness visit
Your doctor will often do the following during your visit:
- Check your blood pressure, height and weight and get routine measurements
- Take routine labs like blood and urine to screen for diabetes, high cholesterol and kidney function (check your benefits if you are not sure it is covered under wellness)
- Review your personal/family medical history.
- Check mental functions (like concentration and memory)
- Review your medications or adjust dosages and note any new meds you may have been prescribed by other doctors
- Talk about any specialists you’ve seen
- Recommend health screenings
- Discuss health risks and treatment options
- Offer personalized advice
Make the most of your annual wellness visit
While at your doctor’s office, you should do the following:
- Brush up on your family medical history
- Document your health issues and any changes (noting when they began)
- Make notes of your health concerns and problems
- Take a list of your prescriptions, dosages and who prescribed them
- Make a list of any over-the-counter medications and supplements you take
How can I avoid extra charges?
If your doctor recommends a test or procedure, ask if it’s a preventive screening or a diagnostic test and if it’s covered as part of your wellness visit. Screenings are different from diagnostic tests because they are used to find problems before you are sick. If your doctor doesn’t know, call the number on your member ID card. You can always schedule another visit to do those tests.
Make sure you also follow these four steps for a better doctor visit.
Need a PCP?
If you don’t have a PCP, call the number on the back of your member ID card or visit arkansasbluecross.com/findcare to choose one. You can also register or sign in to Blueprint Portal at blueprintportal.com if you want to check your benefit coverage.