Kick Off a Healthy New Year with a Wellness Check Up

March 18, 2024 

When was the last time you had a wellness visit with your primary care provider (PCP)? Now is the time to kick off a healthy 2024 by scheduling a checkup with your PCP.

Getting regular health checkups is one of the best ways to prevent diseases and stay healthy, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

These visits can help find health issues before they become life threatening. In fact, the CDC recommends a wellness visit every year.

And that goes for every member of your family. Wellness visits for children are important to keep track of growth and milestones. They are also a great time to schedule vaccinations.

Adults should schedule regular visits to detect and prevent diseases like cancer. Finding these problems early is key to treating many diseases.

Plus, wellness visits can help people of all ages check the success of any medical treatments they are receiving. It also is the time to follow up on prescribed medications or procedures.

Seeing your PCP only takes about 15 or 20 minutes. Make those minutes count.

This is your chance to talk about any changes in your health. Good communication is one way to build a strong relationship with your PCP. Coming prepared with a list of your top questions and concerns is important to making the most of your checkup.

Here are four simple questions you can ask your PCP if you are having a medical issue or concern:

• What do you think is causing my problem?
• What are some of my treatment choices?
• If my symptoms get worse, what should I do?
• What can I do to stay healthy?

Remember: Your PCP is your advisor and partner in helping you stay healthy. It is important to have a medical provider you can talk to about anything. Make sure you have the PCP you want. 

Your current PCP is listed on your Healthy Blue ID card.

If you want a different PCP, use our Find a Doctor Tool to help find one. Once you have picked your new PCP, let us know by updating your PCP in your My Health Toolkit® account. If you need help, call us at 866-781-5094 (TTY: 866-773-9634) Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Find out more about the importance of scheduling your annual checkup at www.cdc.gov.*

_{*This links to a third-party website. The CDC is solely responsible for the contents and privacy policy on its site.}