Preventive Care

Your primary medical provider (PMP) and primary dental provider (PDP) are important partners in your preventive care.

What is preventive care? These are health tests and services that help keep you well.

Routine visits and tests can help your provider find and treat problems. This helps you and your provider find problems before they become serious.

Preventive Care Guide for Women

Preventive Care Guide for Men

Definitions of preventive health activities:

• • Yearly Physical Exam: A health care provider visit at least once a year. Do this even if you feel healthy.
  • Cholesterol Screen: Get your cholesterol checked starting at age 20. If your level is within normal limits, get checked every five years. Your health care provider may check your cholesterol more if your level is not normal. You may be checked more if you have diabetes, heart disease, or kidney problems, or are taking certain medications. You could be screened more if you see changes in your weight or what you eat.
  • Diabetes Screen:  You should be screened for diabetes no later than age 45. Your health care provider may screen you at a younger age if you are overweight or have high blood pressure.
  • Dental Cleaning: Have a dental professional clean your teeth twice a year.
  • Dental Exam: Have a dentist look at all your teeth at least  twice a year.
  • Eye Exam: Get your eyes checked once every two years. If you have diabetes, it is vital to have an eye exam every year. Ask your health care provider if you need your eyes checked more often.
  • Chlamydia:  Women age 16-24, or older if at increased risk, should be screened for chlamydia each year.
  • Cervical Cancer Screen: Women 21-64 should get a cervical cancer screening, called a pap smear, every 3 years.
  • Breast Cancer Screen: Women between the ages of 50 to 74 should get mammograms. This is an x-ray of the breasts to help find cancer. This test should be done at least once every two years.
  • Colorectal Cancer Screen: All people between ages 45 and 75 should get screened for colorectal cancer. You should talk with your health care provider about the test that is best for you. You may be tested at a younger age if you have a family history of colorectal cancer. There are many different tests to screen for colorectal cancer, talk with your provider about the test that is best for you.
  • Flu Shot: Most adults should get the flu shot each year.
  • Pneumococcal Vaccine: Adults 65 or older should get the vaccine. Health care providers may also suggest it for people younger than 65 who have certain other health problems.
  • Shingles Vaccine: This is a vaccine that protects you against a painful disease caused by the chicken pox virus. Those with weak immune systems should not get it. Doctors may not suggest it for people over age 60.
  • Td Vaccine: Adults should get a Td booster once every 10 years.

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