Understanding Preventive Care

Most people think of healthcare as something you use when you feel sick. Preventive care is different. It is care you get to stay healthy and to find possible problems early, when they are often easier to manage.

What is preventive care?

Preventive care includes services that help protect your health before a problem starts or before it causes symptoms. Common examples include:

• Routine checkups (sometimes called wellness visits or annual physicals)
• Screenings, which are tests that look for certain conditions in people who feel fine
• Vaccines that help protect against some infectious diseases
• Counseling on topics like healthy eating, physical activity, quitting tobacco, or alcohol use

Some health conditions, such as high blood pressure, can develop without obvious signs. A screening may be the only way to know.

Why it matters

Preventive care can help you:

• Learn your starting point, such as your blood pressure or weight, so changes are easier to notice later
• Find some conditions early, when there may be more options
• Stay up to date on vaccines
• Build a relationship with a healthcare professional who knows your history

Having a regular source of care also means you have someone to call when questions come up.

What screenings or vaccines do I need?

There is no single list that fits everyone. Recommendations depend on things like your age, sex, family history, health conditions, and past test results. That is why it is best to talk with your healthcare professional about which preventive services make sense for you and how often you need them.

Some questions to bring to your visit:

• "Which screenings are recommended for someone like me?"
• "Am I due for any vaccines?"
• "Is there anything in my family history I should keep an eye on?"
• "When should I come back for my next checkup?"

Does insurance cover it?

Many health plans, including Marketplace plans, are required to cover a set of preventive services without charging you a copay or coinsurance when you see a provider in your plan's network. This does not apply to every service or every plan, and a visit can include other care that is billed differently.

Before your visit, it can help to:

• Call the number on your insurance card and ask what preventive services are covered
• Confirm the clinic is in your plan's network
• Ask the clinic if anything else planned for your visit might have a cost

If you do not have insurance, see our guide on finding affordable healthcare. Community health centers offer services on a sliding fee scale based on income.

Planning preventive care when care is far away

If you live far from a clinic, a little planning can make each trip count.

• Bundle appointments. Ask whether screenings, lab work, or vaccines can be done on the same day as your checkup.
• Ask about telehealth. Some follow-up conversations or test result reviews may be possible by phone or video.
• Check nearby options. Community health centers, rural health clinics, local health departments, and some pharmacies may offer certain preventive services closer to home.
• Keep a simple record. Write down the date of your last checkup, vaccines, and screenings so you know what may be coming up.
• Plan transportation early. If you need a ride, ask the clinic or your health plan whether transportation help is available.

Common myths

"I feel fine, so I don't need a checkup." Many conditions do not cause symptoms early on. Feeling fine is a great reason to keep it that way.

"Preventive care is only for older adults." People of all ages, including children and teens, can benefit from preventive care. The specific services change over time.

When to talk with a healthcare professional

Reach out to a healthcare professional if:

• It has been a while since your last checkup and you are not sure what you are due for
• You have a family history of a health condition and want to know what it means for you
• You notice a change in your health, even if it seems small

Preventive care is a conversation, not a one-time event. This page is for general education and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional who knows you.