July 1, 2024

Stop Avoiding Your Annual Checkup

Busting the excuses that hurt your health.

You know you should get an annual checkup. But do you? Or do you use one of these excuses, or “reasons,” to avoid going to the doctor?

  • It costs too much.
    Nope. Active Employee Plan participants pay nothing (zero, zilch, nada) for an annual checkup and recommended preventive services.
  • I’m too busy.
    C’mon. You can’t find a few hours, once a year, to take care of your health? (Bet you could if we gave you tickets to a playoff game...).
  • I don’t have a doctor.
    That’s easy. Log in on regence.com, then search for a doctor near you by specialty, location, gender, and office hours.
  • I don’t have symptoms, so I’m fine.
    Are you sure? Some conditions don’t have symptoms, for example high blood pressure, which is called “the silent killer” for a reason.
  • I don’t want to be probed.
    Who does? A few moments of discomfort can prevent a future condition that requires even more invasion of your personal space.
Only 5.3% of adults aged 35 years and over received the recommended preventive services in 2020.
  • I don’t want to hear bad news.
    Really? If you have a serious medical condition, wouldn’t you rather hear it from your doctor, instead of from a paramedic on your way to the hospital?
  • I don’t want to talk about it.
    Your doctor has heard it all. You can talk about uncomfortable topics, like mental health, drug use, and sexual activity, without fear of judgement.
  • I don’t want to change my health habits.
    That’s your choice. But if you decide to start some healthy habits (eating better, exercising regularly, etc.), your doctor can help you succeed.
  • My health is my own business.
    Do it for your family, then. Get an annual checkup to reduce health risks, so you can be there for the people you love, for a long time to come.

Putting it off now could result in developing serious health conditions that could have been prevented. And that means you could spend a lot more time than you’d like with a doctor in the future.

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