23 May A Guide to Preventive Care
You might think going to the doctor is something you do only when you’re feeling sick or need help for a specific condition. But, heading to the doctor for regular checkups is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy and catch issues early.
Preventive healthcare is critical for men, women, and children alike. And since ACA approved preventive healthcare services are covered by insurance companies that provide ACA health plans, there’s no excuse to skip your annual physical. Read on to learn the significant benefits offered through preventive healthcare, and why health insurance is so important in making sure you get the treatment you need.
What procedures are considered preventive care?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most healthcare plans must cover a certain set of preventive services at no cost to you. Depending on your age, you may have access to services including:
- Blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol tests
- Certain cancer screenings, including mammograms and colonoscopies.
- Counseling on such topics as quitting smoking, losing weight, eating healthfully, treating depression, and reducing alcohol use.
- Regular well-baby and well-child visits
- Routine vaccinations against common illnesses like the flu or diseases such as measles, polio, or meningitis
- Counseling, screening, and vaccines to ensure healthy pregnancies.
NOTE: These procedures are only at no cost to you when you use a doctor or provider within your plan’s network and the service is billed appropriately by the provider. When you make your appointment, make sure your provider knows you’re coming for an annual wellness check and when you’re at the office, remind the staff you want the visit billed as preventive.
What procedures aren’t covered by insurance? Can I be charged for preventive care?
Examples of non-preventive care include.
- Diagnostic Tests and Screenings: These include tests that aren’t part of the preventive screening For instance, if you need further x-rays or have a biopsy during a colonoscopy, these are considered diagnostic versus preventive.
- Alternative Medicine or Therapy: Chiropractic, massage, acupuncture and other services are seldom covered.
- Visits to Specialists: Specialists include gastroenterologists, orthopedists, neurologists, etc.
The Takeaway
Preventive tests and screenings save lives. Just one visit with your primary care doctor can mean the difference between catching a health condition early and waiting for serious symptoms to develop. And since most insurance companies cover preventive care services, accessing preventive care will help you maximize your benefit. In fact, detecting illnesses early will not only help with treatments, but it could also save you money in the long run.
For more information on preventive care, head to healthcare.gov.
For more information about CGHC health insurance plans contact us at 855-494-2667 or go to https://commongroundhealthcare.org/looking-for-insurance/ to browse plans and pricing.
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-preventive-health-and-why-is-it-important#what-is-it
https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/preventive-care/index.html
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