Preventive Care

Preventive care is key to your overall health. Seeing your providers on a routine basis even if you are healthy helps your providers find and treat problems early before they get worse.

Preventive care includes:

• Yearly well-adult exams
• Mammograms and cervical cancer screenings for women
• Prostate cancer screenings for men
• Routine medical exams
• And much more!

There are activities you can do to make sure you stay healthy. The charts below describe what care or screenings are suggested for you. The charts below are a guide. Your providers will know exactly what preventive health may be right for you based on your health history.

The preventive care listed in the chart is described below. If you have more questions, talk with your care coordinator. You can also call Member Services to learn more.

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): Men between the ages of 65 and 75 who have smoked should get screened for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• Annual Physical Exam: It is important to get a checkup from your doctor at least once each year. This is true even if you feel healthy.
• Bone Density Exam: This test measures the strength of your bones. If you are over the age of 65, you should have at least one bone density exam. If you are between 50 and 65, talk with your provider to see if you need a bone density test, especially if you have had a broken bone.
• Breast Cancer Screening: Women between the ages of 50 to 75 should get a mammogram, an x-ray of your breasts, at least once every two years.
• Cervical Cancer Screening: Women ages 21 to 30 should have a Pap test once every three years if you have a cervix. Women between the ages of 30 and 65 should get a Pap test once each five years if they also have a normal HPV test. After age 65, most women who have not been diagnosed with cervical cancer can stop having Pap tests if they have had 3 negative tests within the last 10 years.
• Chlamydia Screening: If you are younger than 25 years old, you should be screened for chlamydia each year, or as directed by your provider.
• Cholesterol Screening: Get your cholesterol checked starting at age 20. If your level is within normal limits, get checked every 5 years. No matter your age, if your cholesterol level is not within normal limits, if you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or if you experience changes in your weight or diet your doctor may want to check your cholesterol more often.
• Colon Cancer Screening: Between ages 50 and 75, get screened for colorectal cancer. Talk with your provider about the best screening for you. If you are younger than 50, your provider may recommend getting screened if you have a strong family history of colon cancer or other factors.
• Dental Exam: Get your teeth cleaned at least twice each year.
• Diabetes Screening: Those 44 years of age or older and in good health should get screened every 3 years. No matter your age, if you are overweight (BMI over 25) or have high blood pressure, your doctor may screen you for diabetes. All Asian Americans should be screened if their BMI is over 23.
• Eye Exam: Get your eyes checked once every two years. Ask your provider if you need your eyes checked more often.
• Flu Shot: It is recommended that most adults get the flu shot every year.
• Lung Cancer Screening: Between ages 55 and 80, ask your provider about tests for lung cancer if you have at least a 30 pack per year past and either still smoke or quit within the last 15 years.
• Pneumococcal Vaccine: If you are 65 or older, you should have the pneumonia vaccine. If you are younger than 65 and have certain conditions, your provider may recommend it.
• Shingles Vaccine: If you are older than 60, talk with your provider about getting the shingles vaccine. Those with a weak immune system should not get the vaccine.
• Td Vaccine: You should get a tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster once every 10 years.

Member Services: 1-833-230-2005 (TDD/TTY: 711) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT