Jannah Branch-Smith, FNP, and Kaylin S. Craig, MD, MMHC
As the fall season kicks off and schedules begin to fill up, it is important to prioritize your health and make sure you’re getting the most out of your health care coverage before benefits reset in January.
Preventive care, including annual wellness visits and screenings, is intended to help you identify and stay ahead of any potential health problems. These visits and screenings, such as colonoscopies or mammograms, vaccinations and routine lab work, enable your primary care provider to catch conditions early — sometimes even before symptoms arise. Many cases of high blood pressure, diabetes and even certain cancers can go undetected until the condition has progressed to a later stage, which serves as a reminder that these visits should not be put off.
Your primary care provider will consider your age, family history and risk factors to determine which screenings are essential. For example, it is generally recommended that individuals over age 45 have regular colon cancer screenings, but someone with a family history of the disease should begin at a younger age.
Many insurance plans cover preventive services at little to no cost to you, but benefits and funds from flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), or vision and dental coverage may not roll over into the new year — meaning you run the risk of losing them if you don’t leverage these benefits before the new year.
In addition to a primary care appointment, schedule dental and vision appointments before they book out during this busy season. Dental visits help detect issues such as cavities and support overall oral health, which is often overlooked. Similarly, a routine eye exam can identify early signs of glaucoma and ensure your prescription is up to date. Use your remaining FSA or HSA funds on items that go beyond traditional medical costs, such as prescription glasses, physical therapy, postpartum care products and other eligible health expenses. A full list of these available expenses can typically be found online through your health care insurance provider’s website.
While using your benefits with a financial saving incentive before the year ends, it is also the first step to creating healthier and sustainable lifestyle habits. Preventive care helps you manage your health, which ultimately results in better outcomes and lower costs by decreasing the likelihood of developing chronic and preventable diseases. Set time aside for yourself and your family this fall and schedule those doctors’ appointments you’ve been putting off. Taking these steps allows you to maximize valuable benefits and helps you start the new year with your health on track.
Branch-Smith is a family nurse practitioner at Vanderbilt Primary Care Providence Marketplace providing virtual care to patients across Middle Tennessee. Craig is an assistant professor of Clinical Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
