Are annual physicals a must?

[6miths]

Kidney and liver functions are nice to know. One of my friends found out his kidneys are starting to fail (he's 72). When you get older, like over 60, it's a good time to check organ functions through blood work.

All of our kidneys are failing as we age. Loss of kidney function is normal and AFAIK, aside from managing high blood pressure and avoiding or reversing one's Type 2 DM, there is no effective treatment. It is worthwhile screening for high BP and diabetes and manage them when present but one doesn't need an annual physical exam to do these screenings. So you get a 'routine' kidney function test done to find that your kidneys are 'failing' and you are left to worry about it when in almost all cases you are destined to die of something else long before your kidneys pack it in.

 

[aja8888]

All of our kidneys are failing as we age. Loss of kidney function is normal and AFAIK, aside from managing high blood pressure and avoiding or reversing one's Type 2 DM, there is no effective treatment. It is worthwhile screening for high BP and diabetes and manage them when present but one doesn't need an annual physical exam to do these screenings. So you get a 'routine' kidney function test done to find that your kidneys are 'failing' and you are left to worry about it when in almost all cases you are destined to die of something else long before your kidneys pack it in.

I used that as an example. A1C and other functions are really important. But I would like to know if my kidneys are failing like happened to my BIL five years ago. He had kidney cancer. Too late for a transplant by the time he found out though.

 

[MC Rider]

It's inconvenient to go to the Doc and get tests.
Beats getting diagnosed too late by a long shot though.

 

[Dash man]

All of our kidneys are failing as we age. Loss of kidney function is normal and AFAIK, aside from managing high blood pressure and avoiding or reversing one's Type 2 DM, there is no effective treatment. It is worthwhile screening for high BP and diabetes and manage them when present but one doesn't need an annual physical exam to do these screenings. So you get a 'routine' kidney function test done to find that your kidneys are 'failing' and you are left to worry about it when in almost all cases you are destined to die of something else long before your kidneys pack it in.

Yeah, I see my nephrologist every six months and she prescribes my blood pressure medications. It takes four to get it down to a normal range. Cardiologist visits are every six months and primary care is also twice per year. Dermatologist is once per year unless there’s a concern.

 

[brett]

The physician who did my last physical seemed very thorough. DW agreed when she saw results of the work up.

One surprise though, he spent a great deal of time upfront asking me about each of my parents health, age when they passed away and the cause. Fortunately neither had any issues and lived into their late eighties.

 

[swaneesr]

Yes. But you already knew that.

Friend is super healthy. COVID delayed his colonoscopy at age 50. Guess what? Colon cancer. They think they got it with surgery but required chemo because one lymph node positive.

I am due. I will figure out how to get the annual exam scheduled. I will need to log on to that website somehow………

SwaneeSR

 

[6miths]

I used that as an example. A1C and other functions are really important. But I would like to know if my kidneys are failing like happened to my BIL five years ago. He had kidney cancer. Too late for a transplant by the time he found out though.

Very sorry to hear about your brother-in-law but doing the standard renal function test would be unlikely to have detected kidney cancer. Screening for diabetes is valuable but it doesn't necessarily have to be done on everyone or every year. The same is true for lipid screening. The prevailing belief seems to be that more is always better and to argue otherwise seems futile so I will cease.

 

[Montecfo]

I'm in my late 50's (3 years from FIRE) and other than my regular dental and eye exams I seldom go to any doctor. It's not out of fear or anything. I just think if nothing is wrong, why go. Went to my primary care physician today because I had a mole removed. (I do go if I notice changes in what is normal for me.) He asked when was my last physical. It's been well over a decade. And I maybe see the doc once every two years to get antibiotics for a sinus infection or some such thing or for, say, emergencies that would require stitches.

I do understand sometimes things will be caught early that can be taken care of before they become larger, untreatable issues. But I'm in generally good health. My cholesterol runs just a little high (genetics) and as long as I limit my coffee intake my blood pressure stays within an acceptable range. No family history of cancers or major other issues, slightly overweight according to charts (205lbs @ 6'1") and I'm much more active at my age than my parents (both still living in their 80s') were at this age.

So, are annual physicals really necessary?

Necessary? I think they are one of your best tools to assure good health. Free with ACA compliant policies so why skip?

Health is not to be taken for granted.

 

[mystang52]

Yes! FWIW, I'm a poster child for annual exams catching things early, and in both cases I was asymptomatic and feeling great. We caught my leukemia early, and we caught my slowly-developing prostate cancer early enough to ultimately treat it effectively. We all have anecdotes of people who waited too long to see a doctor only to learn they had what would have been a treatable condition, now too late.
Why on Earth someone would not get an annual physical makes no sense to me, anyway.

 

[mountainsoft]

We all know we "should" get annual checkups, but I fall in the lazy category and don't go every year. Actually, I don't think I've ever gone to the doctor just for a checkup. But I usually end up going in every 2-3 years for some minor issue (back pain, skin tags removed, etc.) and the doc takes the opportunity to order the usual blood tests and whatnot.

I do monitor my blood pressure at home and they mail my annual prostate stool test to my home every year.

I got the COVID vaccines back in May, but to date I have never gotten the flu or shingles shots. I can't remember the last time I had a cold or flu. I had shingles several years ago, but there's still a chance of recurrence.

I do need to get to the doc though as we will be losing my wife's insurance when we retire in a couple years. It would be nice to get everything checked out while we still have good insurance.

I think I'm like most people and don't think about my health until there is a problem. That doesn't make it right, it's just me being lazy.

 

[The Rodent]

That's why when you answer the questionnaire, you must answer carefully and don't admit to anything! (Everything is good kind of answers)

Euripides said it best:

"Question everything, learn something, answer nothing"

 

[street]

A debatable question. I don't but don't see a reason not too, if you feel you should. I do though do my blood work every year in the same month. So, I do have my system checked but I don't actually having a physical.

 

[jim584672]

For those on Medicare, does Medicare cover annual bloodwork? I have some years to go, just curious.

 

[W2R]

Yes! FWIW, I'm a poster child for annual exams catching things early, and in both cases I was asymptomatic and feeling great. We caught my leukemia early, and we caught my slowly-developing prostate cancer early enough to ultimately treat it effectively. We all have anecdotes of people who waited too long to see a doctor only to learn they had what would have been a treatable condition, now too late.
Why on Earth someone would not get an annual physical makes no sense to me, anyway.

Makes no sense to me, either. I see no reason why I shouldn't get regular physicals, and they cost me nothing. My doctor wants to see me twice a year, or four times a year if my lab tests are borderline or some other problem is of concern. My last one was last week. My doctor reassured me that it takes a long time for some (but not all) covid patients to recover, and he said my lungs are very clear and sound good, as does my heart, and all is well. That's good to know.

I am 73 years old, and I'm on a few regular medications by now. So, I need to get routine checkups and lab work to renew my prescriptions. Each time I get a routine physical, I make the appointment for my next one and put it on my calendar when I get home.

For those on Medicare, does Medicare cover annual bloodwork? I have some years to go, just curious.

I'm not sure - - it could be Medicare, or else my BCBS federal retiree health insurance/supplement that is covering my blood work. Somebody is, anyway! Never costs me a cent.

 

[Marita40]

I would like to know, too, whether Medicare covers annual bloodwork. Given the "lite" Wellness exam, I doubt it. I like blood work. "Blood don't lie."

 

[braumeister]

I would like to know, too, whether Medicare covers annual bloodwork. Given the "lite" Wellness exam, I doubt it. I like blood work. "Blood don't lie."

Mine has always been covered, but I have seen it paid sometimes by Medicare and sometimes by my supplement. I have also seen that whether something is paid by Medicare or not depends on how it's coded when the claim is sent in. Some docs (or their billing persons) are more savvy than others in this regard.

 

[REWahoo]

I have also seen that whether something is paid by Medicare or not depends on how it's coded when the claim is sent in. Some docs (or their billing persons) are more savvy than others in this regard.

+1

Earlier today I scheduled a physical for next month, my first since going on Medicare 10 years ago (this thread spurred me to action). The nurse practitioner who will do it, a friend and former neighbor, said Medicare would pay for "almost everything".

 

[Keim]

One of my closest friends was diagnosed with colon cancer in June at 49. He was in generally good health until he wasn't. Then he died.

 

[kgtest]

One of my closest friends was diagnosed with colon cancer in June at 49. He was in generally good health until he wasn't. Then he died.

My condolences. My sister passed from this same wretched disease 2 months ago. She was popping off about 3 months ago, the last month went downhill quick. She battled for 3 yrs but that last month went from seemingly good to dead quickly. You can't pick your time.

 

[bluelight]

My husband regularly sees a rheumatologist and a pulmonologist due to some medical issues he has. He thought that was enough as he was seeing them twice a year.

A few years ago he ended up with a sinus infection that warranted a doctor visit. The GP talked him into setting up an appointment for a physical, which he had not had in at least 5 years. While he had been getting his blood tested for the specific illness as required by his specialists, his PSA had never been part of those tests. The level was high and he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Luckily he was in stage one and the cancer was treatable with radiation.

 

[Peter]

My doctor is a bit of a 'by the book' guy and insists that the Medicare wellness exam doesn't include annual blood work. But I hear of many on this board, and elsewhere, that do have it covered. I suspect it's a question of how far your individual doctor wants to push the boundaries.

 

[Ronstar]

I wouldn't say that they are a "must". But annual exams to include blood work can help detect problems before they become serious.

I went for the medicare wellness exam in 2020 and 2021. Last physical exam before that was 2004. The 2020 exam provided my doctor with baseline info to compare future exam results to. There were some issues in my 2020 exam, but there was no previous data for my doctor to compare my results to. So I think it's important to get checked often to build a database of health info.

 

[FLSUnFIRE]

At 40 I started going to establish a history and a baseline so when things go wrong, we know what my normal is. I was also diagnosed with a minor condition then (asymptomatic but long term could lead to symptoms later in life if not treated... $40/yr prescription so cheap insurance). I like my Dr, he is younger than me and hopefully not going to FIRE so I can stick with him for a long time.



My brother had scary adverse reaction to the COVID vaccine but never went to the doc before so trying to figure out if he is back to normal is more challenging for him and his doctors. I still don't think he has a primary but he's got a hematologist now!

 

[Car-Guy]

I just think if nothing is wrong, why go.

No family history of cancers or major other issues

So, are annual physicals really necessary?

You need to talk a neighbor of mine.... Very similar family history and line of thinking.... He got away with it until his late 60's...

 

[RetiredHappy]

Medicare covers blood work, no limit. My husband gets routine blood work and urine test twice a year (5 tubes of blood each time), and ad hoc blood work when requested by his other doctors.