Each year, it’s important that you and all members of your family schedule an annual preventive health visit. You may know this as a yearly checkup, physical exam, well-woman exam, well-child visit, and so on. It’s that one chance each year to check in with your primary care provider, even if you feel great and have no health issues.

This vital appointment is covered 100% by most health insurance plans — it’s considered that important, because it’s all about preventive care.

This annual preventive visit allows your provider to know you and your health on an ongoing basis. This helps your provider spot any issues or changes in your health, and catch potential illnesses or conditions as early as possible.

It starts with newborns, our tiniest patients. Babies see their family practice provider or pediatrician several times during their first year. Yet it’s common for providers to notice that once children have their recommended immunizations, they might not see them again until it’s time for a sports physical or a pre-college physical exam. While it’s great if a child is healthy enough to not need sick care or ongoing care to manage a health condition, they are missing a prevention opportunity that’s most often covered.

Providers monitor a child’s growth and development, and look for signs of potential health concerns such as asthma, hearing or vision issues, and even mental health problems.

Did you know that childhood obesity affects nearly one in five children, and can lead to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions later in life?

Your primary care provider can help address this condition with diet and lifestyle recommendations, before it gets more difficult to overcome.

For adults, a yearly checkup helps you stay on top of important numbers, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are common conditions of adulthood. Identifying and managing these conditions can help prevent serious complications and health events, including heart attack and stroke.

You can talk with your provider to ensure you’re getting cancer screenings as recommended, including Pap tests, mammograms, colon screenings and more. Again, because these are important tools of prevention, certain cancer screenings are covered 100% by most health insurance plans. So don’t miss these important opportunities that may even save your life.

Discussing your personal and family health with your provider will help determine if you’re at high risk for a particular disease or condition, such as breast cancer or colorectal cancer. If you are at high risk, you may be eligible for more frequent or earlier screenings.

If you’re noticing new symptoms that concern you, you might need an additional office visit because of limited time to address health conditions in depth at an annual checkup. It’s also possible to ask for a combined appointment if you wish to discuss a new or ongoing condition at your annual preventive visit. Ask your clinic staff for more details when you call for your appointment.

It’s a new calendar year, and a new year for your health insurance coverage. Join me in making a New Year’s resolution to stay ahead of your health in 2025 — and that begins with an annual preventive health appointment for each member of the family.

— Debbie Streier is regional president/CEO at Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center