What does preventive care mean?
Preventive care is routine health care that's meant to help you stay healthy. When you schedule regular appointments and screenings, it can help you manage and maintain your health.
Preventive care is generally focused on the following:
- Evaluating your health when you are symptom-free
- Offering routine checkups and screenings
- Decreasing the risk of developing health issues even if you are in the best shape of your life
What's the difference between preventive care and diagnostic care?
It's important to understand the difference between preventive and diagnostic care because they are usually covered differently by health plans.
- Preventive care is designed to help you stay healthy. It's covered by most health plans with $0 out-of-pocket when you see a network provider.
- Diagnostic care could have additional costs, depending on your plan coverage. Check your plan documents for details.
Preventive care includes routine well exams, screenings, and immunizations intended to prevent or avoid illness or other health problems.
Diagnostic care includes care or treatment when you have symptoms or risk factors and your doctor wants to diagnose them.
When is care considered preventive?
A procedure can be considered preventive care in some situations, but not in others. This is important, because a service has to be considered preventive in order to be exempt from copays, coinsurance or deductibles. If it’s not, these charges may apply.
Preventive care example
A woman has an annual wellness exam and receives blood tests to screen for anemia, kidney and liver function, and has a urine analysis done. If the physician orders lab work during a preventive care visit some of the tests may be covered as preventive care, such as a cholesterol screening.
Diagnostic care example
However, other blood chemistry panels like an anemia screening in a non-pregnant woman, a kidney or liver function test and urinalysis, would not be covered as preventive care. The woman would be responsible for any deductible, coinsurance, or copayment that may be applicable based on her benefit plan.
When a service is performed for preventive screening reasons and is appropriately reported, it will be covered under the Preventive Care Services benefit. Check your plan documents and consult with your health care provider prior to having the service performed if you have questions.
Preventive care includes
- Routine physical examinations
- Immunizations
- Well baby and well-child care
- Mammography, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy
- Cervical screening
Why is preventive care important?
- Regular preventive care visits and health screenings may help to identify potential health risks for early diagnosis and treatment
- Helping prevent disease and detecting health issues at an early stage is essential to living a healthier life
- Following preventive care guidelines — and your doctor’s advice — may help you to stay healthier
Be sure to discuss specific health questions and concerns with your doctor.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor today
Routine preventive care helps you manage and maintain your health, and is generally covered at 100 percent by most health plans.
