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Health & Fitness

Important Preventative Care You Will Need

Important Preventative Care You Will Need

Oh the joys of extra visits to the doctor's office.

I see it as a one stop shopping experience.  Get it all done at that the same time.

As stated in my prior post, it's ideal to visit your doctor at least once a year.  Add your preventative or wellness exams to your visit routines.

Keep in mind, not all equipment is readily available in the doctor's office for you to have it all done in one day, so plan a month out of a year for your preventative needs.  I choose my birthday month as a reminder to get it all done.  The remainder of the year....I'm good.  I know my health status, I'm stress free.  If anything comes back off the mark, I have time to plan it out with my doctor.

Blood tests such as lipids, which is checking your cholesterol levels, can be done at your doctor's visit.  If....If...they have a lab set up.  Otherwise they will have a lab draw site near by they may partner with.

More invasive, significant testings such as a colonoscopy will need to be scheduled and done on an outpatient visit.

Many preventative tests and wellness exams do not require for you to pay a co -payment.  Contact the number on the back of your insurance card to learn what you are responsible for paying.

No insurance, no problem.  Many local federally qualified health centers and your local health departments offer this service.  Call the health center nearest you to learn more.  These centers will charge you a fee based on your income, a sliding scale fee.

There are several preventative treatments you can and SHOULD receive free of charge to you through your insurance.  Some include:

VACCINES.  Those flu vaccines some stores and pharmacies are charging $50 for, is actually free to you in your doctor's office.  Confirm with your health insurance if you are unsure.
COLONOSCOPY.  This is the lighted scope that is inserted into your colon through your rectum to help prevent colon cancer by detecting pre-cancerous cells or polyps.  Yes, this is free to you through your insurance.  Now if the doctor finds something and needs to take action, such as a biopsy, you may owe a copay.  But hey, it's cheaper to pay that co-pay if the doctor finds something now, than it will cost if you delay and then require treatment for cancer later.
DIABETES and CHOLESTEROL screenings.  These are usually done by blood tests.  Free to you.
SMOKING CESSATION.  This is the counseling you may need to help you get motivated to stop smoking.  That counseling should be free through your insurance.

You should also know that prior to these preventative services becoming free to you through the affordable care act, also known as OBAMACARE, some insurance plans were "grandfathered" in.  Meaning they may not HAVE to provide these services free.  They must renew their application annually, so just check with your insurance company to see when these free services are available to you if they aren't already.

For more information on how to access your very own healthcare, go toMyBloomingHealth.com

Thanks for reading.  I hope this was helpful.

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