It is vital to regularly visit your primary care physician or primary health provider to ensure good health and wellness. You don’t need to wait till you fall ill before going to the doctor; it is much more sensible and cost-effective to be proactive.
Go and discuss anything and everything with your doctor to improve your overall health. The more you know about your body, the better you can take care of it, and the better prepared you will be to prevent a disease or make a full recovery. The first step in prevention is a wellness check.
Defining a Wellness Check
A Wellness check is a form of preventive care. It allows you to come and discuss any issues regarding your health and wellness and to receive a checkup and diagnosis without actually having any symptoms of illness. It is easier to catch health issues at their early stages, which results in better treatment and faster recoveries.
Compared to other medical visits, a wellness check or a wellness exam is annual.
Insurance typically covers wellness checks but may not cover all costs, such as lab tests or additional testing. Most coverage plans cover one wellness check per year, so take full advantage of it. Review your coverage plan to see what it covers.
What is the Difference Between a Wellness Check and a Physical Exam?
A wellness check is not as thorough as an annual physical. Only the health assessment is included in the annual wellness check. Physical examinations and routine measurements are not included in the wellness check.
Apart from the services mentioned above, the physical exam includes reflex testing, a neurological exam, a head and neck exam, an abdominal examination, a lung exam, and a vital signs check.
What Happens at a Wellness Check?
You will need to fill out a health risk assessment questionnaire before your appointment. When your doctor receives the answers to these questions, they can discuss this information with you.
In this phase, the doctor will ask about your health history, psychosocial and behavioral risks, and your daily activities, including walking, bathing, and managing your medication.
Your physician will discuss your weight, height, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI), as well as your lifestyle and health choices.
In addition, several screenings may be conducted based on age, gender, and risk. Your wellness visit may include cholesterol testing, blood pressure screening, diabetes testing, mammography, pap tests, osteoporosis screening, or STD testing.
Your physician may ask you about your current stress level, physical activity, diet, alcohol or tobacco use during your visit. The check mainly covers discussion about improving your health by living a healthy lifestyle and making intelligent decisions.
Answer honestly – the more information you provide, the easier it will be to work with your doctor.
What is the Cost of a Wellness Check?
You are eligible for an annual wellness check if you have been a Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) patient for more than 12 months.
If your doctor performs additional tests during your visit, you may have to pay coinsurance. Not all tests are included in preventive services.
Other preventive services covered by Medicare include flu vaccinations, bone density measurements, and preventive cancer screenings.
Schedule Your Wellness Check With Ascent Care Partners
As well as ensuring your health, wellness checks help you live longer. If you schedule routine screenings, your doctor will be able to detect underlying medical conditions and treat them early on. Get in touch with us today and schedule an appointment with a qualified physician for a child wellness check.
Get a wellness exam annually to focus on your physical and mental well-being. Wellness exams are usually fully covered by insurance so that you may obtain these services for free.
The sooner you schedule your annual wellness check, the more likely you will get a head start on your healthcare and avoid health problems and illness. By understanding what type of treatment you need earlier, you can take action and minimize costs.
Just out of curiosity, do you already have a wellness check solution for your practice? Yes/No?
Schedule your wellness check with our physicians at Ascent Care Partners so you can discuss your health concerns and learn how to preserve your overall well-being.
Contact us today.