How often do you go to the doctors in a year if you are NOT sick?

[ShokWaveRider]

My doctor (GP) wants to see me every 3 months need it or not. All he does is spend 5 mins asking how I am, renews any prescriptions I may need and then proceeds to bill the insurance for $227.

As a result I have stopped going as I feel fine and my BP is in Check. I check it every day at home.

I do see my Cardiologist Tech every 6 months to get my Pacemaker checked as it is due for replacement next year.

Lately I have not been to see my GP for 9 months and he refuses to renew my prescriptions without an office visit. Not an issue yet as I have about 6 months supply of my BP meds.

Whaddyall think? I am tempted to change docs.

 

[Aerides]

More info needed. 3 months sounds like a lot for a totally healthy person, but for someone with multiple scripts, a pacemaker, and BP that needs to be monitored...idk if it's that bad?

Maybe split the difference with him and go every 6 months. I have no scripts or issues and I go annually.

 

[aja8888]

Once a year...annual physical.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

More info needed. 3 months sounds like a lot for a totally healthy person, but for someone with multiple scripts, a pacemaker, and BP that needs to be monitored...idk if it's that bad?

Maybe split the difference with him and go every 6 months. I have no scripts or issues and I go annually.

All info in OP.

Pacemaker, for electrical issue not blockage or anything like that, just congenital AV node failure. Has not been adjusted for 10+ years but coming up to it's due by date. See Cardiologist for that.

Generic BP meds (Free at local Supermarket). BP in check.

 

[jimbee]

I go once a year for a physical, but I don't have blood pressure problems or a pacemaker. I would ask the doctor to explain why you should go every three months. Changing doctors is always an option.

 

[brett]

Last time was 7 years ago for a post retirement checkup. Before that...probably 25 years ago for an employment medical.

Plan to go for another checkup in the fall.

 

[Car-Guy]

My preferred/favorite doctor retired about 5 years ago. I went to him once a year (or as needed) before he retired. No testing of any sort, unless I complained about something. He took my temp, BP and listen to my heart. Then we talked for about 10 to 15 mins about "whatever". He was more from the school of "if it ain't broken, don't fix it".

Have seen three different doctors since then, just to get my BP meds renewed. They all want to do chest xrays, ekg's, blood work, etc, etc, each time. Still looking for another one with the old school philosophy.

 

[street]

Don't, unless I have an issue. There my best to live healthy and take one day at a time.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I think Annually would be a good approach in my case for GP visit. I understand they may need to still justify the BP meds even though I have been on them for 20 years. Pacer check is a different matter and not really applicable to this post, I was aiming at GP if there are no current issues.

One other reason I may change is because his office staff cannot seem to get things right, billing, coding and they call me for tests I do not need, eg. Colonoscopy when I just had one 2 years ago and got told by the guy that did it that I do not need another for 5 years and that kind of thing. They make a lot of mistakes and do not always follow up on requests, i.e. refills between appointments etc. or get the quantities incorrect, issue a soft script, when I need a hard one, that kind of thing.

They also call every 3 months to remind me to make an appointment. I just tell them I do not need one.

 

[aja8888]

I think Annually would be a good approach in my case for GP visit. I understand they may need to still justify the BP meds even though I have been on them for 20 years. Pacer check is a different matter and not really applicable to this post, I was aiming at GP if there are no current issues.

One other reason I may change is because his office staff cannot seem to get things right, billing, coding and they call me for tests I do not need, eg. Colonoscopy when I just had one 2 years ago and got told by the guy that did it that I do not need another for 5 years and that kind of thing. They make a lot of mistakes and do not always follow up on requests, i.e. refills between appointments etc. or get the quantities incorrect, issue a soft script, when I need a hard one, that kind of thing.

They also call every 3 months to remind me to make an appointment. I just tell them I do not need one.

Sounds to me you need to find a new doctor.

 

[Moemg]

I was going every three months for awhile . They had a sign at the office that said if you were on so many medications Medicare required a visit every three months .That must have changed because i am now on every six months . Two BP meds and inhalers for COPD .I also see a pulmonary doctor yearly .

 

[Bamaman]

My internal medicine doctor wants to see me every 6 months. I was there this morning for meds to fight a cold.

My endocrinologist sees me every 3 months because I'm on an insulin pump and Medicare requires me to see him quarterly and document my blood sugar levels 3x per day.

I do see a cardiologist yearly, but he just does an EKG and sends me on my way.

 

[jollystomper]

I see my regular physician and my cardiologist once a year. Unless something comes up from those annual exams and tests, that is it. If something does come up, either one usually has me follow up in 3 (only once) or six months, depending on what was found in the annual exam. But that is about it.

 

[audreyh1]

Several times a year! They always come up with an excuse to have me come back.

 

[Dtail]

Twice a year to my Primary.
Twice a year to the Eye Doctor.
Twice a year to the Dermatologist.
Three times a year to the Periodontist.

 

[Cobra9777]

Once a year for a wellness exam, blood work, and flu shot. I have high blood pressure, so any time we change meds, there's a follow-up 30 days later.

 

[razztazz]

Twice. Once for an annual blood test that is required for a prescription I am on. And once to a Urologist for the never-popular prostate check. In fact , for the blood test I don't even see the doctor. I just show up, they pull the blood, the end. By law here, in order to be considered "under a doctor's care" to get a prescription I do need to actually say "hello" every 2 years whether I'm sick or not. SO I guess that averages out to 2.5 times per year when I am not sick or not otherwise scheduling something like a colonoscopy.

 

[Lakedog]

No schedule - last visit to a doc (for routine blood work) was 4-5 years ago. No meds or known health issues. I do make an effort to eat healthy (low carb) and exercise regularly.

 

[SheitlQueen]

Once a year for a check up to get my prescriptions renewed. Also go to the dermatologist once a year for a skin check.

 

[mpeirce]

Roughly every two years. If I ain't broke...

 

[Helena]

.

I stay as far away from doctors, hospitals and drugs as possible.

 

[bingybear]

All info in OP.

Pacemaker, for electrical issue not blockage or anything like that, just congenital AV node failure. Has not been adjusted for 10+ years but coming up to it's due by date. See Cardiologist for that.

Generic BP meds (Free at local Supermarket). BP in check.

so paroxysmal AV block I assume. I'm not sure everything is in the OP. How do you know that the AV block was congenital? Have you had it since birth? Did you have beta blockers before getting the AV block. I've read some beta blockers have been linked with AV blocks. From what I understand you can get this from some tic bites (from discussion with my latest Cardiologist.)
you say that you just have BP meds. So you don't have any cholesterol lowering drugs, correct? Those can require more periodic blood tests.

I'm also under the belief that there will be many more frequent device checks as the replacement time becomes closer. This may be due to the telemetry my PM has.

I see my GP twice a year, Cardiologist once a year and 2 device checks a year typically.

edit - my understanding is the minimum standard with pacemakers is 2 cardiologist visits and 4 device checks.

 

[FreeBear]

Interesting, seems divided into 2 groups: frequent fliers (more than yearly, often multiple docs) and "ain't broke, don't fix" group. I hope to stay in the latter group as long as possible.

 

[Scratchy]

My doctor (GP) wants to see me every 3 months need it or not. All he does is spend 5 mins asking how I am, renews any prescriptions I may need and then proceeds to bill the insurance for $227.

As a result I have stopped going as I feel fine and my BP is in Check. I check it every day at home.

I do see my Cardiologist Tech every 6 months to get my Pacemaker checked as it is due for replacement next year.

Lately I have not been to see my GP for 9 months and he refuses to renew my prescriptions without an office visit. Not an issue yet as I have about 6 months supply of my BP meds.

Whaddyall think? I am tempted to change docs.

Perhaps ask him whether he would be comfortable seeing you less frequently if you monitor your blood pressure yourself at home.

 

[COcheesehead]

Once a year. Annual physical.