Physical Exams
An annual physical exam is a yearly visit to your provider to ensure your overall health is okay and you don’t have any medical problems you are unaware of. It’s a great opportunity to touch base with your provider, address health issues and talk about preventive measures.
At your annual check-up, your doctor will:
- Check your vital signs. Recording your temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate create a baseline for your overall wellness.
- Perform a physical exam. Visual inspection of your eyes, ears, and throat will help your doctor spot any potential issues. Lightly touching areas like your abdomen and back will accomplish this as well.
- Update your vaccines. Depending on your age, you may need a new vaccine or a booster shot.
- Ensure you get screenings you need. Are you due for a blood test, colonoscopy or bone density screening? Your physician will let you know and can coordinate tests.
- Discuss new prevention and treatment recommendations. How you maintain your health changes over time. A yearly physical brings your care up-to-date.
- Provide guidance on reducing your risk for disease. Your doctor can provide information and motivation to stop smoking, lose unhealthy pounds, or manage risk factors like high blood pressure.
- Manage your medications. Your doctor will make sure your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements don’t interact with each other. They can also help you manage potential side effects.
Is my physical covered by insurance?
It depends on your insurance. Many insurance plans consider an annual physical a covered service, but how much you will pay out of pocket depends on your plan.