Women’s Health Matters in Yearly Checkups

As a woman, discussing female-related health concerns with your primary care provider is one of the best ways you can respect yourself.

A well-woman exam, typically incorporated into your yearly checkup, offers unique features that considers your personal needs and goals. You’re invited to learn more about what to expect and how to get the most of this meaningful time with your provider.

What Happens at Your Well-Woman Exam

When it comes to female-related topics, a few key points to discuss with your provider include family planning, a menstrual cycle review and your sexual history. Screenings might be recommended, including screenings for sexually transmitted diseases or various cancers.

“Your relationship with your health care provider helps establish what your health needs are,” said Tammie Smart, CNP, a specialist at Avera Medical Group Internal Medicine Women’s. “These can vary based on your health history, so it’s important to talk to your provider.”

So ask about the screenings and examinations you should stay up-to-date on. These may include:

• Colonoscopy: once every 10 years starting at age 45
• Mammogram: every year starting at age 40
• Bone density scan: after menopause
• Pap test: once every three years from age 21-30, then every five years plus an HPV test from age 30-65 (A Pap test is no longer needed after age 65 if you’ve had 10 years of normal Paps.)
• Pelvic exam: every one to two years (this can vary on your needs; talk to your provider)

Other Details About Your Yearly Checkup

Your yearly checkup covers a lot. Use this list to learn what you might expect, or items you think you should bring up with your provider:

• Health screening: blood pressure check and BMI evaluation
• Routine screenings for cholesterol, thyroid function and diabetic screening, depending on your age
• A diet/weight management conversation
• Medication review
• Vaccination review, with a possibility of receiving vaccinations
• DXA scan for bone health
• Mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, etc.

“We might review risk factors including social, environmental and family history of illness before we’re finished,” said Smart.

Health Insurance Coverage for a Yearly Checkup

Knowing your health insurance coverage is an important part of seeing your provider. Take a few minutes to call your insurance provider before going to any appointment so you have a better idea of what’s coming. Most insurance providers offer plan-specific information online through a member portal for quick review of benefits.

Your yearly checkup is covered at 100% if you have an Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant plan. Services that are above and beyond what’s covered at 100%, like lab testing, may count toward your deductible and/or be out-of-pocket expenses for you.

If you want to be seen to address a specific health problem, such as heavy periods, your provider might not be able to complete the lab or exam work needed during the visit AND go over other details.

“Instead, there would be a separate appointment,” said Smart. So it’s important to understand how follow-up clinic visits, tests or imaging would be covered. It might involve a co-pay, or it might count toward your deductible.

This can be confusing. You and your provider want to maximize the time you have together, but the yearly checkup, in some ways, is its own “thing” and it is more general than specific.

“We’ll make sure the results of our screenings as well as the issues top-of-mind are addressed,” said Smart. “They just might be addressed during our next face-to-face meeting.”

“I hope all women who have coverage for this important exam take advantage of it and use it as the tool it is — timely visits with your provider can help you stay on top of your health,” Smart added.