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What is preventative care?

15/12/2022

What is preventative care?

Most people only see their doctor when they are sick. This is referred to as ‘diagnostic care’ and it usually involves your physician running tests and carrying out examinations to determine what’s wrong with you.


As its name suggests, preventative care, on the other hand, focuses on helping you stay as healthy as possible. It does so primarily through regular physical examinations or check ups, which can often identify a range of medical issues before they develop into something more major. 


Examples of preventative care


The concept of preventative care is all about being proactive rather than reactive. This means taking advantage of the resources and services that are available to you to help avoid more serious medical problems going forward.


Examples of preventative care include:


Annual physical examination or check up


Laboratory and screening tests carried out during a check up


– Yearly flu shots 


– Routine vaccinations


– Yearly mammograms (usually for women 40 and older)


– Colonoscopy (usually one every 10 years for those 50 and older)


The benefits of preventative care


As we’ve already mentioned, preventative care is designed to identify any potential health issues early on before they become a more serious problem. Doing so affords a number of benefits, including:


– Better prognosis (this is especially true for certain cancers)


– Greater treatment responses


– Lower healthcare costs


– Overall peace of mind for you


While preventative care is important for everyone, it can be particularly beneficial for those who have a family history of certain conditions. Your physician will take this into account during any regular examinations you have, tailoring your tests to look for specific issues.


Preventive care costs


Depending on the type of insurance you have, preventative care is often 100% covered. However, if you’re in any doubt, it’s always best to contact your insurance provider in the first instance.


If preventative care is indeed covered by your insurance, taking advantage really is something that shouldn’t require much thought. The benefits are numerous and the peace of mind you can afford from doing so is priceless.


*image courtesy of batian lu from Pixabay



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