Are annual physicals a must?

[braumeister]

I just think if nothing is wrong, why go.

Yes, that's exactly the point. Without getting periodic lab reports, you have no idea whether something might be wrong or not. Noticeable symptoms are often the last thing to occur.

 

[fh2000]

I started to see my primary physician 20 years ago annually.

In my 40's, he showed me my cholesterol level: 240. I started to exercise and control my diet.
In my 50's, he showed me my stool test result. I started to do colonoscopy. I have done 3 times since.
In my early 60's, he showed me my Xray, and gave me a referral. I went for a lung surgery and removed a tumor.

To me, annual physical is a must even if you are young. Any of those could have killed me already.

 

[SecondCor521]

I've been getting annual physicals with blood work for the past five years or so. I also am up on all my shots and preventative screenings.

My logic is that women live longer on average than men, and IMHO part of the reason for that is that women tend to see their doctors more regularly (for mammograms, Pap smears, etc.). I wanted to live longer on average, so I decided to emulate women in that regard. So I get an annual physical.

Results over that time frame?

My colonoscopy found and removed an adenoma. I'm glad they remove things that are precancerous and asymptomatic rather than when they become colon cancer. Will happily go back when I'm 55.

I had an anomalous PSA reading once. Figured it out, got it fixed. Glad it wasn't prostate cancer, which can be asymptomatic until it gets far enough along or fast enough to kill you early.

I haven't had COVID or the flu.

This year my blood work was finally all normal. I have had some mildly off cholesterol readings, which spurred me to exercise, which helped get the numbers back in line.

Better to nip things in the bud, in my opinion. There are a number of things that can kill you at this stage in life, that you can feel fine with for a while, that are more treatable if caught early.

It's also nice to be reassured periodically that my heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, prostate, etc. are working fine for now.

To reiterate what I said at the start - I think people can skip their annual physicals if they want to, but on average those people will probably have poorer health and will die earlier than those that go.

There can be false positives that may be a bit of a hassle to follow up on - like my PSA reading, for example - but even considering that I think they're worth it.

 

[harllee]

At age 70 I want to get an annual physical and blood work every year but I have to fight Medicare to get them paid and I sometimes end up paying for them out of pocket.

 

[RetiredHappy]

At age 70 I want to get an annual physical and blood work every year but I have to fight Medicare to get them paid and I sometimes end up paying for them out of pocket.

What sort of Medicare plan are you on?

 

[harllee]

What sort of Medicare plan are you on?

Traditional Medicare and G Supplement through United Health Care. Traditional Medicare will only pay for the annual wellness visit which is worthless--not a real physical at all. For blood work, Medicare eventually paid but I had to jump through hoops to get doctor to resubmit with a different code because Medicare said I should not get annual cholesterol blood work paid since I had no health problems. Ironically it seems Medicare does not want to pay if you are too healthy (even though I am age 70).

 

[braumeister]

I had to jump through hoops to get doctor to resubmit with a different code

Yes, that was the point I made earlier. Some docs are more savvy than others, so they know how to code things to get paid quicker.

 

[Car-Guy]

At age 70 I want to get an annual physical and blood work every year but I have to fight Medicare to get them paid and I sometimes end up paying for them out of pocket.

Really, 70+ too and my annual blood work cost is zero, no problems, ever. Even when I needed extra blood work done in the same year, it's been covered at 100%

 

[RetiredHappy]

Traditional Medicare and G Supplement through United Health Care. Traditional Medicare will only pay for the annual wellness visit which is worthless--not a real physical at all. For blood work, Medicare eventually paid but I had to jump through hoops to get doctor to resubmit with a different code because Medicare said I should not get annual cholesterol blood work paid since I had no health problems. Ironically it seems Medicare does not want to pay if you are too healthy (even though I am age 70).

So it would appear that it's doctor's office / lab coding issue. We use a lab called Quest Diagnostics and have not had any issues getting any / all tests covered.

 

[schellem]

The book 'Calculated Risks: How to Know When Numbers Deceive You' has really enlightened me on many things discussed in this thread. Shows just how poor doctors are with statistics and explaining things to their clients and how big pharma drives a lot of 'fear' in relation to health testing.

I won't be following the many 'standard' recommendations that the industry now recommends after reading this book.

 

[chassis]

A "must"? Absolutely not.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. If you think it ain't broke, it probably ain't broke.

I do believe in self ordered diagnostic blood tests. It's a great way to monitor your own health so that you can deal with the disaster called the American healthcare system on your own terms, to the extent that's possible.

Self ordered (generally self paid) labs can be done as often as you like, and you can order any test of your fancy. You don't need to go through a gatekeeper, and avoid getting data mined by the snakes (your insurance company).

 

[rembrandt]

The last time I got a physical or any type of exam I was 30. I am 58 now. Why prolong the inevitable?

 

[MC Rider]

A couple months ago we spent $200+ for blood work on one of our cats.
I'm glad we have insurance on us and use it.

 

[Lakedog]

At age 70 I want to get an annual physical and blood work every year but I have to fight Medicare to get them paid and I sometimes end up paying for them out of pocket.

Original medicare (Part B) does not cover blood work as part of an annual physical but they do cover blood work that is related to a condition that needs to be monitored/treated. I'm assuming some medicare supplements do cover physicals/blood work similar to my federal health plan which is now secondary. Just started medicare this year but so far my health plan has covered all costs that medicare did not (even medicare deductibles).

 

[harllee]

Original medicare (Part B) does not cover blood work as part of an annual physical but they do cover blood work that is related to a condition that needs to be monitored/treated. I'm assuming some medicare supplements do cover physicals/blood work similar to my federal health plan which is now secondary. Just started medicare this year but so far my health plan has covered all costs that medicare did not (even medicare deductibles).

Thats my problem. I have traditional Medicare with a regular G supplement, never was a federal employee ( I had my own business). The supplement only pays if Medicare pays. Fortunately I am a very healthy 70 year old and when I request blood work my doctor cannot figure out a way to get Medicare to pay for it--they cannot hook it onto a condition that would pay for it because I have no condition.

 

[mystang52]

My 2nd comment on this thread: Being in the camp of getting a physical every year, I'm no doubt preaching to the choir to some, and not convincing to the rest. But I feel so strongly about this I have to make one more try to sway the non-believers.
One can feel fine and yet have an underlying condition that needs attention, before it gets worse. I'm biased because my early detection - while otherwise feeling fine - literally saved my life at least once. And, while it's easy for me to spend other people's money, if I had to pay out of pocket for a blood test because that was the only thing not covered by insurance, I would. I'd just look at it as one of my annual retirement expenses.
OK, off my soapbox now.

 

[Aerides]

FYI, self ordered blood work is not that expensive, and you can order it online. For example, Quest offers the most common tests all around $50 or so: Complete Bloodcount, Comp. Metabolic Panel, Cholesterol. Or combo's including more, and urinalysis as well for about $200.

Since for many, that avoids the doctor visit and a copay there, it might even be a wash to just go to a lab directly - only if one is still adamantly against going to their PCP.

One more thing in favor if having a regular doctor visit: Accidents. The most healthy person can trip and fall or get in a wreck. A current health history and doctor is going to mean a lot less hassle for you in an emergency, and afterwards.

 

[braumeister]

One more thing in favor if having a regular doctor visit: Accidents.

Also referrals to good specialists when needed. That has been by far the most useful thing I've gotten from having a relationship with my doctor based on an annual visit.

 

[Gumby]

My health insurance charges me $100 per month in extra premiums if I don't do any of a variety of things each so many years. One of them is a physical exam every year, so I do. Otherwise, I most likely would not go. I once went 20 years without seeing a doctor. That streak would have been longer except for the fact that an exit physical was required when I left the Navy at 27 and I broke my arm when I was 47. I still have never had any maintenance type prescriptions (I did get opioids after a couple surgeries in my 50s, but I could never take more than one, and an antibiotic once for strep throat).

 

[Out_the_Door]

I've had three physicals in the past 30+ years. I had a full battery of test done in Dec 2019 and when I was deemed healthy I gave notice and retired in Jan 2020.

 

[Youngblood]

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?

In my case, yes. I'm currently 45 years old, and I made it a point to get an annual physical since my late 20's. I'm in great health (running, working out) and typically always feel good. However, during one of my physicals a few years ago, my doctor put an order in for some bloodwork that checks liver and kidney functions. The kidney results came back elevated. He decided to re-test. Again, elevated. He then decided to do an ultra sound on my kidneys to see what was going on. That showed him I had a large tumor on my kidney that was growing into my vena cava vein (leads to your heart). I felt totally fine and wasn't showing any real symptoms (blood in my urine 1 time, but no pain associated with it and never repeated). My surgeon told me that they typically only find kidney cancer by chance, like chest x-rays. He also said he has seen cases that the tumor grows all the way to the heart.

If I didn't get my annual physical, my cancer would have probably continued to grow and potentially got into my lymph nodes. None of that happened because I took the time to get my annual checkup. I had several of my friends that hardly ever went to the doctor all schedule their physicals after my diagnosis.

Like I mentioned above. I felt totally fine. There was nothing physically wrong with me. But having that baseline data, allowed my primary doctor to keep digging into what was causing my bloodwork to come back elevated. Probably saved my life!

 

[garyt]

For most health insurance, an annual checkup is free.

How do you monitor your cholesterol and other blood results if you don't get a yearly checkup? I guess you monitor your blood pressure yourself?

I don't understand why anyone would skip it.

Agree, it's not that hard . I could see going every other year if you wanted. I just feel it's worth the effort to go.

 

[Luvtoride]

Agree, it's not that hard . I could see going every other year if you wanted. I just feel it's worth the effort to go.

GaryT, absolutely! There are so many things that might be going on in your body that you would have NO IDEA about without some form of regular check-up/ blood work. Diabetes is called the silent killer as there are very few noticeable symptoms associated with it but it can be easily diagnosed with a blood test.

From reading many of the responses here, I'm not sure if the hesitation is the cost to get a physical or lab work done or just a distrust of the healthcare system and insurance companies.

I hope that those who choose not to closely monitor their health are fine and are comfortable with that approach.

 

[RetMD21]

Thats my problem. I have traditional Medicare with a regular G supplement, never was a federal employee ( I had my own business). The supplement only pays if Medicare pays. Fortunately I am a very healthy 70 year old and when I request blood work my doctor cannot figure out a way to get Medicare to pay for it--they cannot hook it onto a condition that would pay for it because I have no condition.

I think they would pay for a blood sugar and cholesterol since they are recommended screening but not for the other random tests that doctors do. People like getting blood tests and don't mind urine tests but it seems to me that many were more reluctant to do the more useful tests like colon cancer screening.

 

[harllee]

I think they would pay for a blood sugar and cholesterol since they are recommended screening but not for the other random tests that doctors do. People like getting blood tests and don't mind urine tests but it seems to me that many were more reluctant to do the more useful tests like colon cancer screening.

Medicare does pay for the cancer screenings like colonoscopy and Mammogram and skin check. I have had all of these recently and Medicare paid.