Preventive care refers to healthcare services, tests, and screenings aimed at preventing illness, disease, or other health problems before they occur or before they become severe. The goal of preventive care is to keep individuals healthy and detect potential health issues early, allowing for prompt intervention and treatment.
Some common preventive services include:
- Regular Check-Ups: Routine visits to healthcare providers for general health assessments, including physical examinations, blood pressure checks, and discussions about health concerns.
- Screenings and Tests: These include screenings for conditions such as cancer (e.g., mammograms, colonoscopies, Pap smears), diabetes (e.g., blood glucose tests), and high cholesterol (e.g., lipid profile tests).
- Vaccinations: Immunizations against infectious diseases such as measles, influenza, tetanus, and hepatitis help prevent illness and the spread of contagious diseases.
The benefits of receiving preventive services are:
- Early Detection of Health Problems: Preventive care can detect potential health issues early, when they are often easier and less expensive to treat. For example, identifying high blood pressure or high cholesterol early can help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
- Reduced Healthcare Costs: By preventing or detecting health problems early, preventive care can help avoid the need for more expensive treatments, hospitalizations, and medications down the line.
- Improved Quality of Life: Maintaining good health through preventive care can lead to a higher quality of life, with fewer limitations on daily activities and increased overall well-being.
- Long-Term Health Benefits: Adopting healthy behaviors and receiving preventive services can lead to long-term health benefits, such as reduced risk of chronic diseases, longer life expectancy, and improved vitality and mobility in later years.
Regular preventive care is essential for maintaining your health and detecting potential issues early, making them easier to treat. Our health plans cover a comprehensive range of preventive care services and immunizations at no cost to you. As long as you use a doctor, pharmacy, or lab within your plan’s network, there are no out-of-pocket expenses. However, if you seek care outside of your plan’s network, you may be responsible for paying out of pocket.
If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to schedule your preventive care appointment with your doctor today. Additionally, if you’re enrolled in the Aflac’s Accident, Critical Illness and/or Hospital Indemnity Plan, each plan provides cash rewards for completing your annual health screening. You can receive cash under all three plans, even if you didn’t pay out of pocket under your medical plan. It’s FREE $$$$! For more detailed information, please visit www.aflacgroupinsurance.com.
Know the potential signs of oral cancer.
Open up. It’s good for your health. Oral cancer can strike at any age – whether you use tobacco or not. That’s why oral cancer screening is part of your regular dental checkup. Your dentist will look for suspicious spots and feel for lumps in and around your mouth.
Some facts about mouth and throat cancer*
- An estimated 54,540 people in the U.S. were diagnosed in 2023
- An estimated 11,580 people in the U.S. died from these diseases
- About 68% of those diagnosed survive more than five years
Routine preventive care can help find and treat cancers of the mouth and throat. Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and exams. And see your dentist immediately if you have any symptoms that worry you.