Preventive care

Find tools and tips to help prepare for your annual checkup

Preventive care can help support your health and help you prevent or avoid illness. Besides annual wellness exams, preventive care also includes screenings and immunizations. It’s different than diagnostic care, which focuses on treating symptoms and risk factors. Learn more about the differences between preventive care and diagnostic care.

Ready to schedule your wellness exam? Make sure to choose a network provider. You’ll usually pay $0 out-of-pocket for covered exams.¹

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Get a preventive care checklist

Wondering what to expect at your appointment? Enter your information to see a checklist of common tests and screenings for your age and gender.

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Prepare for your annual wellness exam

While guidelines differ for each person, here's what you might expect at your annual wellness visit.

What to expect at preventive care exams

These assessments and screenings are common at most exams:

Body mass index (BMI) assessment
Your BMI is an estimate of your body fat based on your height and weight. It can help you determine if you’re at a healthy weight.²
Blood pressure screening
Keeping your blood pressure in check is an important part of maintaining good health.³
Cancer screenings for adults
Common cancer screenings include breast, colorectal, cervical and lung.

You may have additional assessments and screenings based on your age or health. Get an idea of what to expect with these preventive care guidelines:

Preventive guidelines for all ages – English (PDF)

Preventive guidelines for all ages – Spanish (PDF)

For wellness visits for a newborn or infant, talk to your baby’s physician. Learn questions to ask at your child’s wellness visits.

Recommended vaccinations

You’ll likely talk about vaccinations at your wellness exam. Vaccine recommendations depend on your age and other factors. Some vaccines, like the flu shot, are recommended annually.¹ Others occur over different periods of time.

See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization schedules for detailed information and recommendations.

Checklists for your annual wellness exam

Make the most of your next doctor visit with these helpful checklists.

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Footnotes

Certain preventive care items and services, including immunizations, are provided as specified by applicable law, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and state law, with no cost-sharing to you. These services may be based on your age and other health factors. UnitedHealthcare also covers other routine services, where some plans may require copayments, coinsurance or deductibles for these benefits. Always review your plan documents to determine your specific coverage.

Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates.

Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates.
The information provided is for general informational and illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be nor should be construed as medical advice or a substitute for your doctor’s care. You should consult with your doctor or an appropriate health care professional to determine whether making a lifestyle change or decision based on this information is appropriate for you. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
MyHealthfinder; accessed 5/2019.

Disclaimer

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and not intended to be nor should be construed as medical or other advice. You should consult your own doctor and/or an appropriate professional to determine what may be right for you. Treatment options mentioned may not be covered by your benefit plan. Check your plan for specific coverage details.