Adult preventive care
High-quality routine preventive care in adulthood helps maintain or improve your current and future health status.
Annual preventive visits
Annual preventive visits with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) help ensure you are receiving the right preventive care services. These visits can help you prevent, catch, and treat illnesses or diseases early. At annual visits, A and B grade preventive services and more are covered at no ($0) out-of-pocket costs to you when received by an in-network provider.*
A + B grade preventive care services
A and B grade are preventive services that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), doctors, and scientists recommend to be of the greatest value in keeping you healthy.
All A and B grade recommendations are covered at no ($0) out-of-pocket costs to you when you use an in-network provider.
See a list of covered preventive services at HealthCare.gov.
For all adults
- Colorectal (colon) cancer screenings: The best way to beat colon cancer is to get screened. This cancer usually starts with precancerous polyps, which can be removed during a colonoscopy before they turn into a full-blown cancer.
- Vaccinations: To maintain immunity from certain diseases, adults need to keep their vaccinations up-to-date, including an annual flu vaccine.
- Depression screenings: These can help identify if you have depression, a common illness which can be treated.
- Tobacco use screening: Opens a conversation about the health benefits of quitting and nicotine cessation programs, such as Freedom from Smoking.
For women
- One annual preventive care visit to get age-appropriate service is covered. You can visit a Primary Care Provider (PCP) who specializes in internal medicine, family medicine, or obstetrics/gynecology. Cost-sharing will apply to other visits to these PCPs in the same calendar year.
- Breast cancer screening: A mammogram can help find cancer before you experience warning signs or symptoms. Mammograms and follow-up tests, if abnormalities are found, can give you the chance to find cancer at an early, more treatable stage. Follow-up tests and treatments are not considered preventive care and you may pay a share of costs.
- Cervical cancer screening: A Pap test to look for cell changes, or precancers, on the cervix that can become cancer if not treated.
- Breastfeeding counseling: To offer support options if the baby is not feeding well or if the mother is having concerns with breastfeeding, sore nipples, or painful breasts.
- Postpartum depression screening: Helps to identify symptoms of postpartum depression, a condition that causes great sadness and other symptoms. If diagnosed, treatment benefits both baby and mother.
Support for new or expecting parents
Adult vaccinations
Vaccinations are valuable at all ages. In adulthood, immunity from a vaccine can wear off and you may be at risk for new diseases. Your PCP will help keep you up-to-date on vaccinations, so make sure to schedule your annual preventive visit each year.
The specific vaccines you may need are determined by many different factors such as age, lifestyle, high-risk conditions, and previous vaccines. Talk to your PCP about what’s right for you.
* If your plan uses a provider network, review your summary of benefits and coverage for network provider details.
Guidelines to keep in mind:
- You don't need a prescription if you get a vaccine at one of the listed retail pharmacies
- You can get vaccines from your PCP, pharmacy, or a combination of both
- Call your pharmacy to ask if a vaccine is in stock or available
- Visit CDC.gov to learn more about vaccines and schedules
Menopause: The process in which women cease having their periods for 12 consecutive months.
Timing: Some women may experience menopause in their earlier forties and others may start in their sixties. Most women start somewhere within this age range. Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. During this time, it may still be possible to get pregnant, although you may not ovulate monthly.
Experience: Each person's experience with menopause will be uniquely different. Some people may notice significant changes in their day-to-day lives and others may not be as affected or even notice. Your experience with menopause may be impacted by how it starts (gradually vs immediately due to surgery or other reason). You may potentially experience:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes
- Irregular or changing periods
- Changes in sexual health and/or libido
- Vaginal dryness
- Changes in mood (anxiety, irritability, depression) and memory
Support: Culturally, society has not always embraced, openly discussed, or supported women as they go through this time in their lives. And yet, this is a very important time and there is no reason to not speak openly and engage in support if needed.
- Emotional support: While friends and family may offer some support, consider also reaching out to a neutral third-party such as a counselor or therapist for emotional support if you are feeling overwhelmed.
- Diet and exercise have been shown to lessen the vasomotor (hot flashes, night sweats, heart palpitations, and blood pressure changes) symptoms of perimenopause.
- Mindfulness and meditation can also help with mood related issues.
- Contact Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) if you're experiencing any abnormal bleeding:
- If you are having any irregularities with heavy bleeding prior to menopause
- If you have any bleeding that appears after the year of your periods ending (post-menopausal bleeding)
- Contact your PCP for support for physical, mood, or memory changes. Your PCP can explore potential ways to alleviate symptoms using medications and other interventions for symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, sweating, and insomnia as well as mood related issues.
Resources
SSMHealth.com/Womens-Health
Webmd.com/Menopause/
Webmd.com/Menopause/ss/Slideshow-Menopause-Overview
womenshealth.gov/menopause
Menopause.org
For other resources, go to: Deancare.com/Wellness/Real-Goals
For help to translate or understand this, please call 1-877-230-7555 (TTY: 711).