Preventive care occurs before we get sick, reducing the risk for many chronic conditions and disabilities. Still, many people skip routine screenings, vaccinations, and checkups. Life gets busy, symptoms feel minor, or the idea of going to the doctor seems unnecessary when nothing feels wrong.
But preventive care is a necessity to stay on top of our health. When used consistently, preventive services can catch health issues early, when they’re easier and less expensive to treat. In this article, we’re exploring what preventive health services are, what these services look like, and how to make prevention part of your care routine.
Routine care focuses on general health maintenance through regular checkups, while preventive care includes specific services aimed at preventing illness. The terms are often used interchangeably because there’s some overlap between them. Preventive services include any care that helps stop illness before it starts, like screenings, vaccines, and wellness checks that identify risks early or keep you protected. Preventive care is typically recommended on a regular schedule, even when you feel fine.
Routine care, on the other hand, refers to seeing your health care provider on a regular basis, typically to manage day-to-day or chronic concerns. This can include follow-up appointments, prescription refills, or visits for mild symptoms like a sore throat. Routine care is very important, but unlike preventive care, its goal is to respond to current needs, not aiming to prevent future ones.
Most preventive services are fully covered by insurance when done through an in-network provider, meaning you won’t have a co-pay or bill for things like annual physicals or recommended screenings. Routine care, however, often comes with co-pays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket costs depending on your plan and the type of visit.
Preventive care encompasses various services designed to help you stay ahead of potential health issues. Many are tied to your age, sex, or other risk factors, and they play a significant role in catching issues early, managing risk, and supporting long-term health.
Below are some of the most common and important examples of preventive care:
A wellness visit is a yearly check-in with your provider during which you review your overall health, update your medical history, review any medications, and discuss lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and sleep. Your provider might also recommend screenings or lab work based on age and risk factors.
Screenings like mammograms, colonoscopies, Pap smears, and others are preventive because they check for potential signs of cancer early, often before symptoms appear. Early detection makes treatment more effective and gives you more options. The timing of these screening tests depends on your age, sex, and personal risk factors.
Vaccines protect against flu, COVID-19, shingles, and other infectious diseases. They’re preventive because they train your immune system ahead of time, reducing your chances of getting seriously sick. Staying current on your vaccines is part of basic preventive care for people of all ages.
Routine tests for conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes help identify risk early. These screenings are typically based on age and personal or family health history and can help prevent or even avoid certain long-term complications altogether.
Checking in on mental health is a crucial, but often overlooked, part of preventive care. Screenings for depression, anxiety, or substance use can be done during routine appointments and are especially helpful for catching issues before they start affecting daily life.
In-home health evaluations are comprehensive, personalized assessments that take place in the comfort of your own home. Preventive services, such as laboratory services (hemoglobin A1C, kidney function evaluation, diabetic retinopathy screening) may also be completed during the visit.
Signify Health partners with health care providers to offer these evaluations at no extra cost to eligible members, so you can stay proactive with your health, with no waiting room required. Book your In-Home Health Evaluation with Signify Health to get started.
Preventive care is not treatment for ongoing health issues, newly developed symptoms, or follow-ups after a diagnosis. It also doesn’t include tests or procedures ordered to investigate a specific concern.
Here are some examples of care that are not considered preventive:
These services are usually considered diagnostic or routine care. They’re essential, but they serve a different purpose: addressing something already happening, rather than working to prevent it.
More than being worth it, preventive care is a necessity and one of the most effective ways to protect your long-term health. It helps catch issues early, often before symptoms start, and gives you more options for treatment and management. When problems are found early, treatment is usually easier, less disruptive, and less expensive.
Skipping preventive care can lead to missed warning signs, delayed diagnoses, and more complicated health needs later on. Something as simple as a yearly checkup or routine screening can make a major difference in your overall well-being, especially as you age or take on new health risks.
Preventive care keeps your health on track by catching risks early and helping you avoid more serious problems down the road. From yearly checkups and screenings to vaccines and in-home health evaluations, these services support your well-being before symptoms appear.
Making preventive care part of your routine is one of the simplest ways to stay healthier, longer. Getting started doesn’t take much, and the payoff can be significant. Learn more about Signify Health’s preventive health services and how an In-Home Health Evaluation can help you get ahead of potential issues from the comfort of your home.