Catch Serious Health Issues Early with Free Preventive Care

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 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 healthcare. Direct healthcare costs average about $6,000 annually, 5x 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 healthcare 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.

We’re making it easier to understand when a service is preventive - and when it might not be. Scroll down to the bottom of this article to find a helpful guide, but remember that coverage can vary based on your plan type and situation.

Where do you go for preventive care?

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

AZ Blue members who don’t have a PCP can log in to their member portal, search ‘Find a Doctor’ and click ‘Doctors by Specialty.’ Now go ahead – put your health on the calendar!

AZ Blue Medicaid members can learn more about preventive care for children and adults by visiting: Adult Health | Health Choice AZ.