Your health insurance likely covers far more preventive care than you realize, and many members are leaving these benefits unused. Annual routine physicals, recommended screenings, immunizations, and biometric measurements are covered at no cost when you use a preferred provider, yet a significant portion of plan members don't take full advantage of these services.

What Preventive Care Services Are Actually Covered?

Preventive care is one of the most direct ways to protect your health, and the coverage is broader than most people understand. When you visit a preferred provider, you won't pay a copay or deductible for these services. This includes annual routine physicals, recommended screenings based on your age and health history, immunizations, and childhood vaccines.

Beyond the standard physical exam, biometric screenings are also included in preventive care coverage. These measurements give you and your care team a clear picture of where your health stands right now. Biometric screenings typically measure several key indicators:

• Body Mass Index (BMI): A measurement that relates your weight to your height, helping assess whether you're at a healthy weight range
• Waist Circumference: A measurement that can indicate how much fat is stored around your midsection, which is linked to certain health risks
• Total Cholesterol: The overall amount of cholesterol in your blood, which affects heart health
• Blood Pressure: The force of blood against your artery walls, a key indicator of cardiovascular health
• Fasting Blood Sugar: Your glucose level after not eating, which helps detect diabetes risk

Completing your annual biometric screening often qualifies you for wellness rewards, giving you an extra incentive to stay on top of these measurements.

How to Make the Most of Your Preventive Care Benefits

Getting the full value from your health plan requires knowing what's available and taking action. Here are the key steps to maximize your preventive care coverage:

• Schedule Your Annual Physical: Contact your preferred provider to book your routine physical exam, which is covered at no cost with no copay or deductible
• Complete Your Biometric Screening: Ask your doctor about scheduling a biometric screening during your visit, which measures BMI, waist circumference, cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting blood sugar
• Review Your Immunization Status: Confirm that you're up to date on all recommended vaccines, including annual flu shots and other age-appropriate immunizations
• Log Into Your Member Portal: Check what specific preventive services are covered under your plan and review any plan-specific details about coverage
• Contact Customer Service: If you're unsure where to start or what's covered, reach out to your plan's customer service team for personalized guidance on available preventive services

Beyond Annual Checkups: Additional Wellness Support Included in Your Plan

Preventive care is just the foundation. Most comprehensive health plans also include additional wellness programs designed to help you manage ongoing conditions and prevent problems before they become serious. These programs often include one-on-one health coaching from trained nurses, nutritionists, and clinicians at no additional cost, with no referral required.

Health coaching typically covers multiple areas of wellness that directly impact your long-term health. Coaching programs address nutrition and eating habits, sleep quality and sleep disorders, exercise and physical activity, weight management and healthy weight loss, stress reduction and mental wellness, and tobacco cessation for those looking to quit smoking.

For members managing chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), specialized condition-specific programs provide ongoing support beyond annual checkups. These programs connect you with nurses and health advocates who help with medication guidance, symptom tracking, and care continuity to keep your condition well-managed over time.

Why Preventive Care Matters More Than You Might Think

The reason health plans invest heavily in preventive care is simple: catching health problems early is far more effective and less expensive than treating advanced disease. Biometric screenings can reveal early warning signs of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions before you experience symptoms. Annual physicals give your doctor a chance to assess your overall health, review your medical history, and recommend screenings tailored to your age and risk factors.

Many members aren't using everything available to them, which means they're missing opportunities to catch problems early and stay healthier long-term. The programs designed to enhance your well-being are already part of your plan, so the barrier to using them is often simply not knowing they exist or how to access them.

If you're unsure what preventive services you're eligible for or how to get started, logging into your member portal or calling your plan's customer service team can provide personalized guidance on where to begin. Your preventive care benefits are there to help you stay healthy, manage ongoing conditions, and get support before a small health concern becomes a bigger one.