Importance of Annual Physical FAQ

Annual physicals are essential for maintaining your overall health and well-being. They provide an opportunity for early detection and prevention of potential health issues, as well as a chance to discuss your lifestyle, medical history, and health goals with a healthcare professional.

Yes, even if you feel healthy, having an annual physical is still essential. Many health conditions may not have noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Regular check-ups help identify issues before they become more serious.

We separate annual physicals from chronic condition follow-ups to ensure that patients have enough time to address all their health concerns thoroughly. This approach allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of both preventive care and ongoing health management.

While it may seem convenient to combine visits, it can lead to rushed appointments, potentially overlooking important health issues. Separating the visits provides dedicated time for each aspect of your healthcare, ensuring a more thorough evaluation and personalized care.

By scheduling visits separately, most insurance providers will not charge an additional copay for an annual physical, as it is considered preventive care. Chronic condition follow-up visits or sick visits may have copays based on your insurance plan, but are vital for managing ongoing health needs effectively. Since you may have a copay, we would rather schedule a separate appointment of 30 minutes to address non-preventative concerns.

Separating visits allows our healthcare providers to focus on specific aspects of your health during each appointment. This approach ensures that preventive screenings, vaccinations, and lifestyle discussions are thoroughly addressed during your annual physical, while chronic conditions are managed with personalized care during follow-up visits.

While annual physicals focus on preventive care and overall health assessment, you are welcome to discuss ONE acute health issue or immediate concern with your healthcare provider during the visit. Please be aware that this will incur a copay (if you have one), even though it was discussed during your annual physical exam.

Our healthcare providers aim to provide comprehensive care during annual physicals. While time is allocated for preventive screenings and discussions, they will do their best to address your acute issue during the visit. If further evaluation is required, a follow-up appointment may be scheduled. 

If your insurance normally requires a copay, you will incur one for addressing the acute issue even though there usually is no copay for just the annual physical. Since you might have a copay, we would rather schedule another appointment of 30 minutes to address non-preventative concerns.