By Brooke Chaplan
One of the best ways to keep your health on track is scheduling your appointments for routine checkups every year. Everyone in the family can benefit by taking the time to see their physician and optometrist on a yearly basis, and you can rest easy knowing the whole family is on the right track.
Family Doctor
Most people have a family doctor they go to when they get sick. When it comes to preventing major illness though, it is good to see the family doctor for annual routine checkups. These visits can be the best way to detect serious medical issues before they become a huge problem. The earlier the detection, the more options there are for treatment.
While most kids see a pediatrician, adults can either see a family doctor, internist, or general practitioner who are all considered primary care physicians. It is always much more cost effective to go to a primary care physician rather than a specialist or urgent care.
Optometrist
Another type of doctor it is important to see on a routine basis is an optometrist. This is especially imperative for kids going to school. Whether you are going to the opticians in Edmonton or San Diego, any vision problems including being either far or near-sighted can be detected right away, and optometrists can prescribe glasses when necessary.
According to Londonderry Eye Care, it is also wise for adults to see an optometrist as their eyes can change as they get older. Adults might need a new prescription for glasses or contacts, and optometrists can detect any other vision issues when keeping up with regular eye appointments.
Health Insurance Coverage
Most health insurance companies cover routine checkups 100% and subscribers oftentimes do not even have to pay a copay. Along with covering the office visit with a primary care physician, insurance will pay entirely for routine tests such as blood work to check cholesterol. Well-child or well-baby checkups are also covered 100% percent by most insurance companies which includes routine immunizations.
It is important to note that most insurance companies don’t consider eye exams as preventive services, so these might not be covered 100%. Normally, optometrists are considered specialists so it is best to check with your health insurance carrier or whoever your company goes through for vision to see how these visits will be covered.
There are certainly many benefits to having a family checkup and it really is the best way to keep your health on track. Routine checkups allow for prevention and early detection which are vital to living a healthy life, and giving you and your family a good head start.