As you’ve always heard, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That saying has stuck around because it’s true! In most cases, it is far easier to prevent a health problem than it is to cure one.
Health insurance companies understand this reality, and that’s why they offer so many preventive services for free. In this case, getting services for “free” means without a copayment or deductible, and even if you haven’t met your annual deductible. It is more reasonable, from their point of view, to offer fully covered preventive services, rather than cover the medical treatments and drugs needed to cure those conditions.
And from your point of view, it is simply better to stay healthy! No one wants to endure the discomfort or expense of a serious illness. So make sure to check your health insurance policy regarding coverage for the following:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Alcohol abuse screening and counseling
- Aspirin use to prevent cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer
- Blood pressure screening
- Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or risk factors
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Depression screening
- Diabetes (Type 2) screening
- Diet counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease
- Falls prevention
- Hepatitis B screening for people at high risk
- Hepatitis C screening for adults age 18 to 79 years
- HIV screening for everyone age 15 to 65, or others who are at increased risk
- PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) HIV prevention medication for HIV-negative adults at high risk for getting HIV through sex or injection drug use
- Immunizations for adults
- Lung cancer screening for adults 50 to 80 at high risk for lung cancer
- Obesity screening and counseling
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention counseling
- Statin preventive medication for adults 40 to 75 at high risk
- Syphilis screening for adults at higher risk
- Tobacco use screening for all adults and cessation interventions for tobacco users
- Tuberculosis screening for certain adults without symptoms at high risk
Talk to your doctor about your individual risk factors, and seek preventive care services as recommended. These services are available to you at no extra charge, so take advantage of the opportunity to prevent serious diseases in the future.
