No-Cost Appointments Included in Your Health Plan
Jake Newby
| 4 min read
It's always a good time to make sure you know about all the free appointments and screenings you are eligible for under your health insurance plan.
Everyone should start by scheduling their annual wellness exam. Women, specifically, should schedule their well-woman visit. These are standard annual appointments that are free to insured patients.
After that, there are a host of preventive care appointments that are covered for both adults and children in applicable situations. This list of federally mandated preventive services does not cost a copayment or coinsurance, whether you’ve met your yearly deductible or not. Circumstances surrounding some services on this list may vary, so speak with your insurance carrier first. These services are only free when you visit an in-network health care provider.
Preventive care services can help keep health care more affordable by reducing the risk of chronic conditions and diagnosing health conditions earlier.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Blue Care Network (BCN) members can ask questions about benefits, claims or other issues by calling the number on the back of your member ID card or dialing 313-225-9000.
Preventive care appointments for adults
- Colorectal cancer screening for adults 45 to 75
- Depression screening
- Diabetes (Type 2) screening for adults 40 to 70 years who are overweight or obese
- Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk
- Lung cancer screening for adults 50 to 80 at high risk for lung cancer because they’re heavy smokers or have quit in the past 15 years
- Falls prevention (with exercise or physical therapy and vitamin D use) for adults 65 years and over, living in a community setting
- Alcohol misuse screening and counseling
- Tobacco use screening for all adults and cessation interventions for tobacco users
Other free appointments for adults include blood pressure screenings, hepatitis B and C screenings, obesity screening and counseling, diet counseling, HIV screening and more. Take a look at the complete list – as well as the immunizations covered for adults – at HealthCare.Gov.
Women-specific preventive care appointments
- Breast cancer genetic test counseling (BRCA) for women at higher risk
- Breast cancer screening mammogram with or without clinical breast examination, every one to two years for women 40 and older
- Breast cancer chemoprevention counseling for women at higher risk
- Cervical cancer screening: Pap test (also called a Pap smear) for women aged 21 to 65
- Domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling for all women
- Gonorrhea screening for all women at higher risk
- Sexually transmitted infections (STI) counseling for sexually active women
Other free appointments for women include urinary incontinence screenings, bone density screenings, chlamydia infection screenings and more. Here’s HealthCare.Gov’s complete list.
Appointments and services for pregnant women or women who may become pregnant
- Breastfeeding support and counseling from trained providers, and access to breastfeeding supplies, for pregnant and nursing women
- Birth control: Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures and patient education and counseling as prescribed by a health care provider for women with reproductive capacity (not including abortifacient drugs). This does not apply to health plans sponsored by certain exempt “religious employers.” Learn more about contraceptive coverage
- Folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant
- Gestational diabetes screening for women 24 weeks pregnant (or later) and those at high risk of developing gestational diabetes
- Hepatitis B screening for pregnant women at their first prenatal visit
- Maternal depression screening for mothers at well-baby visits
- Preeclampsia prevention and screening for pregnant women with high blood pressure
- Rh incompatibility screening for all pregnant women and follow-up testing for women at higher risk
- Syphilis screening
- Expanded tobacco intervention and counseling for pregnant tobacco users
- Urinary tract or other infection screening
Coverage for children’s preventive health services
- Well-baby and well-child visits
- Autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months
- Depression screening for adolescents age 12 and older
- Alcohol, tobacco and drug use assessments for adolescents
Other preventive screenings for children include blood screenings for newborns, vision screening for all children, lead screening for children at risk of exposure, STI prevention counseling and screening for adolescents at higher risk, blood pressure screenings for children, behavioral assessments for children and more.
Here is the complete list of free screenings for children, including the immunization list.
Not all services on this list require individual appointments. Many are provided during annual wellness exams depending on your age, health conditions and more. Log into your BCBSM member account to learn more about your plan, what’s new, member discounts and more.
Taking care of our physical health is one of the ways we can all keep health care more affordable. Staying active, eating healthy and taking preventive steps to manage your health helps avoid costly complications and need for medical care down the road. When more people lead healthier lives, we can all help lower health care costs, protect access and lower health care costs for everyone.
Learn more about how Blue Cross is making health care more affordable here.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Related:
