7 Reasons to Visit the Doctor When You’re Healthy

Summer is in full swing and you’re feeling fine, enjoying all your favorite activities. So why should you interrupt your fun to visit your primary care provider? There are several good reasons for scheduling a doctor’s office visit when you’re healthy.

1. Establish a relationship. A well visit (also known as a preventive health checkup) is a great way for you and your provider to get to know each other better. You can establish a trusted relationship, so you are comfortable with the provider when you’re dealing with an illness. If you don’t have a primary care provider, use our enhanced Find a Doctor tool to locate one near you.
2. Discuss your family history. Many chronic conditions are influenced by the genes that you inherited from your parents. Talking about your family’s health history will give your provider a better understanding of the conditions you are at risk for, and which preventive screenings are appropriate. Learn how to create a family health history.
3. Check if screenings and vaccinations are up to date. During a well visit, you can talk with your provider about recommended preventive screenings and vaccinations, and make sure you’re up to date on them. Check out our list of 12 preventive screenings to help you stay healthy.
4. Get referrals to specialists. While your Blue Cross VT health plan doesn’t require a referral for you to see a specialist, your primary care provider is an excellent source of information about specialists practicing in your area. If you are thinking about seeing a specialist, your primary care provider can give you guidance and may even be able to help you make an appointment.
5. Talk about your minor health issues. You may have several health issues that you think aren’t a big deal, but they could be indicators of larger problems ahead. In a well visit, tell your provider about things you’re experiencing, such as trouble sleeping or frequent headaches. Have a conversation about how you feel every day — both physically and mentally. Your primary care provider can ensure you are getting the support you need.
6. Lower your health care costs. Visiting your primary care provider can identify emerging health problems in their early stages, when they are less expensive to treat. Early treatment and prevention can reduce your out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and coinsurance.
7. Receive accurate information. There’s a massive amount of medical information available, which can be contradictory and confusing. Asking your primary care provider questions during a well visit will give you trusted information you can rely on.

Questions to Ask

To help you get the most out of your well visit, here are some questions to ask your provider:

• Is my weight affecting my health? During a well visit, your provider will weigh you and measure your height. They can use that information to calculate your body mass index (BMI), which indicates if your weight is in a healthy range. If you are concerned about how your weight could be affecting your health, don’t by shy about bringing up the subject.
• Am I up to date on vaccines? Ask your provider to review your medical record to make sure you’re up to date on all recommended vaccines and to identify any you should consider.
• What screenings do I need to schedule this year? If you haven’t already created a list of medical appointments for the year, a well visit with your primary care provider is a good way to start making one. Your provider can tell you which screenings are due and may be able to help you set up your screening appointments.
• What other providers should I see? While your primary care provider can handle much of your routine medical care, there may be specialists you should also see throughout the year. Ask your primary care provider if you should meet with specialists or other healthcare professionals to address your needs.
• Do I still need all my medications? If you are taking prescription medications regularly, ask your provider during a well visit if they are all still necessary. Also, ask if the dosages are correct. If you are taking multiple medications, ask your provider to review your medication list for potential drug interactions.
• How can I manage my stress better? We all deal with some amount of stress in our lives. Tell your provider about what triggers your stress and discuss things you can do to manage it. Check out our blog post on how to recognize and manage stress.
• Are there ways I can stay healthy in the future? A well visit is a great time to talk with your provider about making lifestyle changes that will help you stay healthy. If you have any chronic conditions, take the opportunity to ask how you can manage them better.
• When should I schedule my next appointment? Discuss with your primary care provider how often you should visit. For some people, an annual well visit is sufficient, while other people need to see their providers more frequently.  

Free Well Visits

We want to make it easy for you to visit your primary care provider when you’re healthy. Many of our qualified health plans include zero-dollar office visits, which allow you to see an in-network primary care provider without out-of-pocket costs. Learn more about zero-dollar office visits.