Wellness visits are a yearly checkup with a primary care provider designed to help you stay healthy throughout your life. Although you may be tempted to cancel or skip your wellness visit if you feel healthy, there’s more than one benefit to keeping – or scheduling – an annual appointment with your provider.

Overall health assessment

During a wellness visit, your provider will comprehensively assess your health and well-being. They will review your health history, along with other lifestyle factors that could be impacting your health, such as:

• Physical activity level
• Alcohol use
• Nutrition
• Sleep habits
• Tobacco use

Your provider will then help you create a plan to reach your best overall health, which could include recommendations for nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle changes.

Annual wellness visits are also an opportunity to share any concerns or questions you have with a trusted health expert who can connect you to a wide range of resources, services and specialists.

Disease prevention

Your provider can help you catch health problems sooner or even prevent them altogether by recommending preventive screenings and tests based on your age, health history and national guidelines. This can include screening for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. By finding health issues early, you can receive the most effective treatments.

To help you stay protected from common illnesses and infectious diseases, your provider can also update your vaccinations. Over time, immunity from childhood vaccines can wear off and you may need boosters, along with other vaccinations based on your age, lifestyle and travel plans.

Medication review

As part of your overall health assessment, your provider will review your current medications and make sure they are still appropriate for your health needs. They’ll also check for any potential interactions and side effects.

Building a relationship with your provider

Seeing your provider annually helps you build a partnership for managing your health and can lead to better communication. When your provider knows you and your concerns, needs and goals, they can provide more personalized care. By establishing care with a primary care provider, they can care for you throughout your life, giving you a consistent go-to health expert.

Covered by insurance

Most insurance plans and Medicare cover annual wellness visits, making them accessible and affordable for everyone. This includes your Sanford Health Plan coverage, which covers your annual wellness visit at no charge.*

Be proactive and prioritize your health and wellness by scheduling a wellness visit. Need to find a primary care provider? Find one here.

*When using in-network providers. Certain restrictions apply. See plan for details.