Why I advise Arizonans to get their free annual checkups, shots and screenings

Cara Christ, MD, MS

Submitted photo

Preventive care is routine health care that helps you stay healthy or catch problems early, before they become more serious or costly to treat.”

It’s June, do you know what that means? We’re halfway through the year. This is your friendly reminder to schedule your preventive care!

Preventive care is one of your most important health insurance benefits. It’s care that is covered at no cost if you see an in-network provider. Still, a new survey found that 90% of Americans delay preventive care — including annual checkups, shots and certain screenings.

Put your health on the calendar

Make an appointment with your physician today! Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t postpone or avoid routine preventive care:

• 14% of cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed after a recommended screening test. When cancer is detected in earlier stages, survival rates are 4x higher.
• Many chronic conditions are preventable. People with chronic conditions spend much more on health care. Direct healthcare costs average about $6,000 annually, five times the cost of someone without a chronic condition.

Bottom line, preventive care can help prevent or catch serious health issues early, save you money and even save your life.

What’s considered preventive care?

Preventive care is routine health care that helps you stay healthy or catch problems early, before they become more serious or costly to treat.

Examples of preventive care include:

• Annual checkups
• Shots (immunizations)
• Cancer screenings at certain ages, like mammograms and colonoscopies
• Recommended screenings based on risk factors or age — like diabetes or cholesterol screenings
• Recommended counseling based on your health — like for nutrition, tobacco use or substance use.

Preventive care isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on things like your age, gender and health history. Work with your doctor to create a plan that’s right for you.

Know before you go

To make sure your preventive care is covered at no cost, always see an in-network provider and ask ahead of time if the test or service is considered preventive under your plan. It’s a small step that can make a big difference.

Where do you go for preventive care?

Most preventive care starts with your Primary Care Provider. You can also get some preventive services — like flu shots or health screenings — at clinics or pharmacies.

Editor’s note: Cara Christ, MD, MS  is chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.