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Your Annual Physical Exam: What You Should Do Before, During and After

Each year many of us make an appointment to get our annual physical exam—whether at our doctor’s urging or on our own. A routine physical exam is an important step to ensure long term health and wellness. Your body, like any complex machine, regularly needs an expert to take a holistic look at its overall condition. The annual physical exam serves this purpose.

Before Your Physical Exam

Any doctor’s appointment, including one for a physical exam, is an opportunity to update your physician on concerns that have developed since your last visit. This appointment may also serve as a follow-up for areas of your health you have been working to improve, especially if you have changed physicians recently.

When scheduling a physical exam, let your doctor know you are coming for an annual physical exam—not a wellness exam, check-up or comprehensive physical exam. See Know What Kind of Exam You’re Getting below for information on the key differences. This may help you receive all the recommended preventive care services which are due as part of the annual physical exam and avoid unexpected costs for tests not covered by the Health Plan.

Know What Kind of Exam You’re Getting
Exam Type Purpose How it’s covered What is included
Annual Physical Exam Preventive care and assessment Usually covered at 100% when performed by a network provider No treatment or diagnosis
Wellness Exam/Visit Lifestyle and risk assessment Some insurers, including Medicare, may cover at 100% No treatment or diagnosis
Checkup General health review (Can be preventive or diagnostic) Varies, depending on the reason for the check-up Might include treatment
Comprehensive Physical Exam/Visit In-depth screening, usually with a battery of tests Usually not full covered like an annual physical exam Might involve diagnosis and treatment

To prepare for the appointment, follow any recommended preparation steps given by your health care provider (e.g., wear comfortable clothing, fasting from food and beverages except for water, etc.). It may also be helpful to prepare questions for your doctor like those listed below:

  1. Has my ____ (blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) changed since my last physical? If you have been working to improve a specific aspect of your health, this is the time to check on the progress you are making.
  2. Which blood tests/screenings will happen today? You may also want to ask how and when the results of these tests will be communicated to you.
  3. How can I better manage ______ (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.)?
  4. I have recently had a procedure/surgery or an immunization. Can you please add this to my records? This is particularly important if your records do not include services from other providers.
  5. I have had new symptoms over the last year. Should I be concerned?
  6. Do any changes need to be made to my current medications?
  7. Are there any vaccines you recommend I receive over the next year?

During Your Physical Exam

Once at your appointment, your doctor and other medical staff will evaluate your current health, identify any new medical problems, and complete recommended screenings and vaccines.

Generally, nurses and doctors will perform a head-to-toe exam, checking factors that include:

  • Weight
  • Heart rate
  • Blood pressure
  • Temperature
  • Physical exam (e.g., heart, lung and abdominal exam)
  • Current medications
  • Mental health
  • Dental and eye health

You should also expect that certain tests such as blood tests and urinalysis may also be ordered, depending on your medical and family history. Doctors will use the results to disclose current abnormalities and to evaluate your risk for future illness. Regular physical exams are important to assure appropriate monitoring.

After Your Physical Exam

After your exam, be sure to obtain the results of your tests and screenings or ask when they will be made available. They may be returned within days via your electronic health record or may take longer if delivered by a more traditional method (phone call, mail, etc.). Do not assume that test results are normal if you are not informed of the results. If you have any unanswered questions about your results, you should reach out to your physician.

Once your appointment has concluded, you may also receive a bill for your visit. For those covered under the Health Plan, an annual physical exam from a network provider is covered at 100%, with no deductible under preventive care services, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Diagnostic tests or exams to evaluate a sign or symptom discovered during the physical appointment are not covered under preventive care benefits and may be subject to the Health Plan’s co-insurance rates and deductibles.