It’s a proven fact that healthy people use their health care less. But leading a healthy lifestyle takes more than exercising regularly, eating healthy and not smoking. You also need to make sure you receive preventive services such as cancer screenings and vaccinations. Chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease are responsible for 75 percent of the nation’s health spending. And making appropriate screenings a priority can be a deciding factor when it comes to diagnosis and treatment plans. Being on top of your preventive care has far-reaching benefits, including making you more productive at home and at work. In fact, roughly 69 million American workers miss work days due to illness each year, resulting in a decrease in economic output by $260 billion a year. A healthier workforce reduces long term health care costs for businesses, as well as increases stability within the company. It’s a win-win. Preventing diseases before they start is critical to help you live a longer, healthier life, all while keeping health care costs down. The first step is to consult your primary care physician, dentist and vision provider, but educate yourself as well on this list of common preventive screenings you and your family should be aware of:
- Certain cancer screenings (such as cervical, breast, lung and colorectal)
- Routine dental visits
- Annual vision checkups
- Blood pressure and cholesterol level checks
- Routine immunizations
- Physical exams, including pediatrician visits
- Tobacco cessation counseling
- Obesity counseling
- Certain women’s preventive services (such as mammograms, screenings for cervical cancer and prenatal care)
For a full list of preventive services provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan at no or minimal cost to you, visit bcbsm.com.
