Category: Aging Well
Keeping Up With Checkups, Screenings & Vaccines
Preventive health care can become confusing.
You may receive reminders from:
- Your primary care provider
- Specialists
- A pharmacy
- Your insurance company
- Medicare
- A hospital system
- A patient portal
- Public-health agencies
One reminder may say you are due for a vaccine. Another may recommend a screening. A third may tell you to schedule an annual visit.
It is not always clear:
- Which services you actually need
- How often you need them
- Whether your insurance covers them
- Which provider should perform them
- Whether a test is still recommended at your age
- What you have already completed
- What has changed since your last visit
You do not need to memorize every recommendation.
The goal is to create a simple system for reviewing preventive care with your health care provider, keeping accurate records, and completing the services that are appropriate for you.
Preventive Care Is Different From Sick Care
Many people contact a doctor only when something hurts or they feel sick.
Preventive care focuses on protecting your health before a serious problem develops.
It may help:
- Identify health risks
- Detect certain conditions early
- Prevent some illnesses
- Monitor gradual changes
- Reduce complications
- Keep vaccinations current
- Support long-term independence
- Create a plan based on your health history
Preventive care may include:
- Routine checkups
- Wellness visits
- Health-risk assessments
- Vaccines
- Cancer screenings
- Blood-pressure checks
- Cholesterol testing
- Diabetes screening
- Bone-health evaluations
- Vision and hearing care
- Dental care
- Depression screening
- Fall-risk assessment
- Medication review
- Counseling about health habits
Preventive care does not guarantee that you will never become sick.
It gives you and your health care team more opportunities to identify risks, discuss changes, and respond early.
Your Preventive-Care Plan Should Be Personalized
Not everyone needs the same tests at the same age.
Recommendations may depend on:
- Age
- Sex
- Personal medical history
- Family medical history
- Previous test results
- Medications
- Smoking history
- Vaccination history
- Previous illnesses
- Surgeries
- Lifestyle
- Sexual history
- Work or travel
- Risk of falling
- Life expectancy
- Personal preferences
A screening that is appropriate for one person may not be appropriate for another.
Some people need:
- Earlier screening
- More frequent testing
- A different type of test
- Additional vaccines
- Continued screening at an older age
Others may reasonably stop a particular screening after discussing its likely benefits and risks with their provider.
Do not rely only on a general age-based checklist.
Use it to begin a conversation with your doctor.
Understand the Different Types of Visits
The words checkup, physical, and wellness visit are sometimes used as though they mean the same thing.
They may not.
Routine Physical Examination
A physical may include:
- Discussion of current concerns
- Medical-history review
- Physical examination
- Measurements
- Laboratory tests
- Evaluation of symptoms
What is included depends on the provider and insurance plan.
Medicare “Welcome to Medicare” Visit
This is a one-time preventive visit available during the first 12 months after Medicare Part B begins.
It may include:
- Review of medical and family history
- Basic measurements
- Review of health risks
- Discussion of screenings and vaccines
- Development of a preventive-care plan
It is not the same as a complete head-to-toe physical.
Medicare Annual Wellness Visit
The Annual Wellness Visit is designed to create or update a personalized prevention plan.
It may include:
- Health-risk assessment
- Review of medical history
- Medication review
- Basic measurements
- Cognitive assessment
- Fall-risk discussion
- Advance-care planning discussion
- Personalized screening and vaccine recommendations
It is also not automatically a comprehensive physical examination.
Problem-Focused Visit
This appointment focuses on a specific symptom or concern.
Examples include:
- New pain
- Dizziness
- Memory changes
- Shortness of breath
- Medication side effects
- A rash
- Sleep problems
If you have a significant new concern, tell the office when scheduling. Do not assume there will be enough time to address several new problems during a preventive visit.
Schedule a Regular Preventive-Care Review
Many people benefit from reviewing preventive care at least once a year.
During the review, ask:
- Which screenings am I due for?
- Which vaccines do I need?
- Are any previous screenings no longer recommended?
- Do my family history or risk factors change the plan?
- Do I need laboratory work?
- Are my medications still appropriate?
- Should I have my vision or hearing evaluated?
- Should we discuss fall risk?
- Are there health changes I should monitor?
- When should I schedule my next visit?
Write down the answers.
Do not rely on memory alone.
Keep an Updated Health History
Preventive-care recommendations depend partly on your medical history.
Keep a list of:
- Medical conditions
- Previous surgeries
- Allergies
- Current medications
- Family health history
- Previous hospitalizations
- Major illnesses
- Vaccination history
- Cancer-screening history
- Bone-density tests
- Significant laboratory results
- Specialists you see
You do not need to carry every medical document to every appointment.
A clear summary is usually a good starting point.
Know Your Family Medical History
Family history may affect your risk for certain conditions.
Ask relatives, when appropriate, about:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Dementia
- Kidney disease
- Vision conditions
- Blood disorders
- Other inherited conditions
Record:
- Which relative had the condition
- Approximately when it was diagnosed
- Whether multiple relatives were affected
Tell your doctor when you learn new family-health information.
Blood-Pressure Checks
High blood pressure may not cause noticeable symptoms.
Regular checks can help identify a problem before complications develop.
Blood pressure may be checked at:
- Medical appointments
- Pharmacies
- Community health events
- Home, using an appropriate monitor
Ask your doctor:
- What range is appropriate for me?
- Should I check it at home?
- How often should I check?
- What readings should cause me to call?
- Am I using the monitor correctly?
Do not change blood-pressure medication based on one home reading unless your provider has given you specific instructions.
Record several readings with the date, time, and relevant circumstances when your provider asks you to monitor at home.
Cholesterol and Cardiovascular-Risk Testing
Cholesterol testing can help assess cardiovascular risk.
Your doctor may consider:
- Age
- Blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Smoking history
- Family history
- Previous heart or blood-vessel disease
- Medication
- Earlier cholesterol results
Ask how often you should be tested and what the results mean for you.
A cholesterol result should be considered as part of your overall health—not as an isolated number.
Diabetes Screening
Type 2 diabetes can develop gradually.
Screening may involve:
- Fasting blood glucose
- Hemoglobin A1C
- Another appropriate blood test
Your doctor may consider:
- Age
- Weight
- Family history
- Blood pressure
- Previous results
- Medication
- History of gestational diabetes
- Other health conditions
Ask:
- Am I due for diabetes screening?
- What did my previous result show?
- When should it be repeated?
- Do I need to make any changes?
If you already have diabetes, regular monitoring is disease management rather than general screening. Follow the individualized schedule provided by your health care team.
Colorectal-Cancer Screening
Colorectal-cancer screening can identify cancer or certain changes that may become cancer.
For adults at average risk, current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidance recommends screening from ages 45 through 75. From ages 76 through 85, screening decisions are individualized based on health, screening history, and preferences.
Screening options may include:
- Stool-based tests
- Colonoscopy
- Other tests recommended by your provider
The correct schedule depends on:
- The type of test
- Previous results
- Personal history
- Family history
- History of polyps
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Other risk factors
A home stool test and a colonoscopy do not follow the same schedule.
Ask:
- Which test is appropriate for me?
- How often should I complete it?
- What preparation is required?
- What happens if the result is abnormal?
- At what age should we reconsider screening?
Do not assume you are current simply because you had one test many years ago.
Breast-Cancer Screening
Breast-cancer screening recommendations vary based on:
- Age
- Personal history
- Family history
- Genetic risk
- Previous results
- Breast density
- Overall health
Talk with your health care provider about:
- Whether mammography is recommended
- How often it should be performed
- Whether additional imaging is needed
- How previous results affect the schedule
- When the benefits of continued screening should be reconsidered
Report new breast changes even if you recently had a normal mammogram.
Screening tests are intended for people without symptoms. A new lump, discharge, skin change, or other concern may require a separate diagnostic evaluation.
Cervical-Cancer Screening
Cervical-cancer screening may involve:
- A Pap test
- Human papillomavirus testing
- A combination of tests
The appropriate schedule depends on:
- Age
- Previous screening results
- Cervical history
- Immune status
- Whether the cervix was removed
- Why a hysterectomy was performed
- Previous precancerous changes or cancer
Some people can stop routine cervical-cancer screening after a certain age if they have had adequate previous screening and are not at high risk.
Do not stop based on age alone without reviewing your history with a health care provider.
Prostate-Cancer Screening
Prostate-cancer screening may involve a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood test.
It is not automatically appropriate for every person.
The decision may consider:
- Age
- Family history
- Race
- Previous PSA results
- Symptoms
- Overall health
- Personal preferences
- Potential benefits and harms of testing
Ask your doctor:
- Is screening appropriate for me?
- What are the possible benefits?
- What could happen after an abnormal result?
- How would my age and health affect treatment decisions?
Screening is different from evaluating symptoms.
Urinary difficulties, blood in the urine, pain, or other changes should be discussed even if routine screening is not recommended.
Lung-Cancer Screening
Lung-cancer screening is not a routine chest X-ray for every adult.
Low-dose computed tomography may be recommended for certain people with a significant smoking history who meet current age and smoking criteria.
Tell your doctor:
- Whether you currently smoke
- Whether you previously smoked
- How many years you smoked
- Approximately how much you smoked
- When you quit
Ask whether you meet the current criteria.
Do not avoid the conversation because you feel embarrassed about smoking. Accurate information helps your doctor evaluate risk.
Skin-Cancer Awareness
Not everyone needs routine full-body skin screening on the same schedule, but skin changes should be reported.
Watch for:
- A new growth
- A changing mole
- A sore that does not heal
- A spot that repeatedly bleeds
- Changes in color, shape, or size
- An unusual area that looks different from your other spots
People with certain risk factors may need regular skin examinations.
Ask your doctor whether you should see a dermatologist and how often.
Bone-Density Screening
Osteoporosis weakens bones and increases fracture risk.
Current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidance recommends osteoporosis screening for women age 65 and older and for younger postmenopausal women at increased risk.
Recommendations for men depend more heavily on individual risk because evidence for routine population screening is less certain.
Risk factors may include:
- Previous fracture
- Low body weight
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol use
- Long-term use of certain medications
- Family history of hip fracture
- Conditions affecting bones
- Early menopause
- Increased fall risk
Ask:
- Do I need a bone-density test?
- How often should it be repeated?
- Do my medications affect bone health?
- Should I change my calcium or vitamin D intake?
- What can I do to reduce fracture risk?
Do not begin high-dose supplements without discussing them with a health professional.
Vision Care
Vision changes can affect:
- Driving
- Reading
- Medication use
- Balance
- Fall risk
- Ability to complete everyday tasks
Eye care may evaluate for:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Macular degeneration
- Diabetic eye disease
- Changes in vision correction
Tell your eye-care professional about:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Family eye history
- Medication
- Previous eye problems
Seek prompt attention for sudden vision loss, eye pain, flashes of light, a sudden increase in floating spots, or a curtain-like shadow across your vision.
Hearing Care
Hearing changes may develop gradually.
Signs include:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Turning up the television
- Difficulty understanding conversation
- Avoiding social situations
- Trouble hearing on the telephone
- Thinking that other people are mumbling
Hearing loss may affect communication, safety, social connection, and the ability to understand medical instructions.
Ask whether you should have a hearing evaluation.
Sudden hearing loss requires prompt medical attention.
Dental Care
Dental care remains important throughout life.
Regular dental visits may help identify:
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Denture problems
- Dry mouth
- Oral infections
- Changes in the mouth
- Problems affecting eating
Tell your dentist about:
- Medications
- Blood thinners
- Diabetes
- Heart conditions
- Joint replacements
- Changes in your health
- Difficulty swallowing
- Mouth sores
- Loose or uncomfortable dentures
Do not wait for severe tooth pain before seeking care.
Vaccines Remain Important in Adulthood
Vaccines are not only for children.
Adults may need protection against illnesses that become more serious with age or certain medical conditions.
Common adult vaccines may include:
- Influenza
- COVID-19
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
- Shingles
- Pneumococcal disease
- Respiratory syncytial virus
- Hepatitis A or B
- Other vaccines based on health, work, travel, or previous vaccination
Recommendations change over time.
Review your vaccine history with a doctor or pharmacist rather than relying on an old list.
Influenza Vaccine
Influenza vaccination is generally recommended every year.
The available vaccine may change from one season to the next.
Adults age 65 and older may be offered certain vaccine formulations designed for their age group.
Ask:
- Which flu vaccine is appropriate for me?
- When should I receive it?
- Does a previous reaction affect the recommendation?
- Can it be given with other vaccines?
Having had influenza in the past does not provide permanent protection against future seasonal strains.
COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 recommendations may change as:
- New vaccines become available
- Circulating strains change
- Public-health guidance is updated
- New evidence develops
The appropriate number and timing of doses may depend on:
- Age
- Previous vaccination
- Immune status
- Recent infection
- Current recommendations
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to check the current schedule rather than relying on guidance from a previous year.
Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Vaccines
Adults generally need at least one Tdap dose if they have not previously received it, followed by a Td or Tdap booster every ten years.
An additional dose may be recommended for certain wounds or other situations.
Ask:
- When was my last tetanus-containing vaccine?
- Have I ever received Tdap?
- Do I need a dose because of an injury?
Do not assume a childhood vaccination provides lifelong protection.
Shingles Vaccine
Shingles can cause a painful rash and may lead to long-lasting nerve pain.
The recombinant shingles vaccine is generally given as a two-dose series to adults beginning at the recommended age and to certain younger adults with weakened immune systems.
You may still need the vaccine if you:
- Previously had shingles
- Received an older shingles vaccine
- Do not remember having chickenpox
Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether the vaccine is appropriate and when to receive the second dose.
Pneumococcal Vaccines
Pneumococcal disease can cause serious infections, including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis.
Recommendations depend on:
- Age
- Medical conditions
- Smoking history
- Immune status
- Previous pneumococcal vaccines
- Which vaccine products were previously used
The schedule has changed over time, and several pneumococcal vaccines exist.
Bring your vaccination record and ask:
- Which pneumococcal vaccine have I already received?
- Do I need another one?
- If so, when?
- Does my health history change the recommendation?
Do not repeat a dose simply because you cannot remember. Ask the provider or pharmacy to check available records first.
RSV Vaccine
Respiratory syncytial virus can cause serious respiratory illness, especially in older adults and people with certain health conditions.
Current recommendations may be based on:
- Age
- Risk of severe disease
- Residence in a long-term-care setting
- Heart or lung conditions
- Immune status
- Other individual factors
RSV vaccination is not necessarily an annual vaccine.
Ask whether it is recommended for you and whether you have already received it.
Other Vaccines
Additional vaccines may be recommended because of:
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Immune suppression
- Removal or dysfunction of the spleen
- Travel
- Work
- Living situation
- Sexual risk factors
- Exposure during an outbreak
- Incomplete childhood vaccination
Tell your provider about upcoming travel as early as possible.
Some travel vaccines require multiple doses or time to become effective.
Keep a Vaccination Record
Record:
- Vaccine name
- Date received
- Location
- Dose number
- Any significant reaction
- When another dose is due
Vaccines may be given at:
- Medical offices
- Pharmacies
- Health departments
- Hospitals
- Community clinics
- Workplaces
Records from one location may not automatically appear in another system.
Ask for documentation after each vaccination.
Keep a copy with your other health information.
Check Before Repeating a Vaccine
If you are unsure whether you received a vaccine:
- Check your patient portal.
- Contact your primary care office.
- Contact the pharmacy.
- Review state immunization records when available.
- Check old vaccination cards.
- Ask your current provider what to do if no record can be found.
Do not guess when accurate records may be available.
Ask About Timing
Some vaccines can be given during the same visit.
Others may require:
- A specific interval
- A different schedule after illness
- Timing around medication
- Planning around immune-suppressing treatment
- Delay during a moderate or severe illness
Ask:
- Can these vaccines be given together?
- When is my next dose due?
- Does my medication affect the timing?
- Should I delay because I am currently sick?
- What side effects should I expect?
- What reaction would require medical attention?
Understand What Screening Can and Cannot Do
Screening is performed before symptoms develop.
It may help identify:
- A disease
- A precancerous change
- A health risk
- A condition that benefits from early treatment
Screening does not guarantee:
- That a disease is absent
- That every abnormal result means disease
- That every condition will be detected early
- That treatment will always be necessary
Screening can also lead to:
- False alarms
- Additional testing
- Anxiety
- Procedures
- Costs
- Discovery of conditions that may never have caused harm
This is why some screening decisions become more individualized with age.
Ask about both the benefits and possible downsides.
Know When a Screening May No Longer Be Helpful
More testing is not always better.
At some point, the potential burden or risk of a screening may become greater than its likely benefit.
The decision may consider:
- Age
- Overall health
- Life expectancy
- Previous screening history
- Whether you could safely complete follow-up testing
- Whether treatment would be appropriate
- Your preferences
Stopping a screening does not mean your doctor is giving up on your health.
It may mean that the screening is no longer likely to help you.
Ask for a clear explanation before making the decision.
Track Your Preventive Care
Create a simple record with these columns:
- Service
- Date completed
- Result
- Next due date
- Provider
- Notes
Examples:
Blood-Pressure Review
Date completed:
Result:
Next review:
Colon-Cancer Screening
Type of test:
Date completed:
Result:
Next due:
Mammogram
Date completed:
Result:
Next due:
Bone-Density Test
Date completed:
Result:
Next due:
Flu Vaccine
Date received:
Location:
Other Vaccines
Vaccine:
Date:
Next dose:
The system does not need to be complicated.
Use:
- A notebook
- A printed checklist
- A spreadsheet
- A calendar
- A phone note
- A health-management app
- Your patient portal
Choose the method you will actually maintain.
Use Calendar Reminders
When you complete a service, immediately record the next step.
Examples:
- Schedule the next dose
- Add a reminder for next year
- Record when the test should be repeated
- Note when to request a referral
- Set a reminder to check for results
Do not wait until the office sends a reminder.
Reminder systems can fail when:
- You change providers
- You change pharmacies
- You move
- Your contact information changes
- Records do not transfer
- The office closes
- Insurance changes
Keep your own record as a backup.
Confirm That Results Were Received
Completing a test is not the final step.
You also need to know:
- Whether the result was received
- What the result means
- Whether follow-up is needed
- When the test should be repeated
Ask:
- When should I expect the result?
- How will I receive it?
- Who should I call if I do not hear anything?
- Does “normal” mean no follow-up is needed?
- When should this be repeated?
Do not assume that no news always means good news.
Check Insurance Coverage Before the Appointment
Insurance coverage can depend on:
- Your plan
- The provider
- The facility
- The reason for the test
- How frequently the service is allowed
- Whether it is preventive or diagnostic
- Whether additional services are performed
Ask:
- Is the provider in network?
- Is the service covered?
- Is there a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance?
- Is prior authorization required?
- Will the laboratory bill separately?
- Does the vaccine fall under medical or pharmacy coverage?
- Will discussing a new health problem create an additional charge?
A screening test performed because you have no symptoms may be billed differently from a diagnostic test performed because you reported a problem.
Bring the Right Information to Your Visit
Bring:
- Identification
- Insurance card
- Medication list
- Vaccination record
- Preventive-care record
- Family-history updates
- Questions
- Relevant test results
- Contact information for specialists
If another provider performed a test, confirm that your primary care office received the result.
Preventive-Care Review Questions
Ask your provider:
- What am I due for now?
- What will I be due for during the next year?
- Which vaccines should I receive?
- Have any recommendations changed?
- Do my medical conditions change the schedule?
- Does my family history require earlier or additional screening?
- Are there screenings I can stop?
- Are there screenings we should reconsider later?
- Which services will your office arrange?
- Which appointments do I need to schedule myself?
- How will I receive the results?
- What may not be covered by insurance?
Write down the plan before leaving.
Annual Preventive-Care Checklist
At least once each year:
- □ Schedule a preventive-care review
- □ Update your medical history
- □ Update your medication list
- □ Review your family history
- □ Check your blood-pressure plan
- □ Review laboratory-testing needs
- □ Review cancer screenings
- □ Review bone-health needs
- □ Review vision care
- □ Review hearing concerns
- □ Schedule dental care
- □ Review fall risk
- □ Review mood and memory concerns
- □ Review vaccines
- □ Update your preventive-care record
- □ Confirm insurance coverage
- □ Add future due dates to your calendar
Common Mistakes
Avoid these common preventive-care mistakes:
- Going to the doctor only when you feel sick
- Assuming every annual visit includes a complete physical
- Believing Medicare wellness visits and physical examinations are identical
- Following a generic checklist without discussing personal risk
- Forgetting which screenings you already completed
- Repeating tests because records were not transferred
- Missing follow-up after an abnormal result
- Assuming no news means the result was normal
- Keeping vaccine records in several unconnected places
- Forgetting to schedule the second dose of a vaccine series
- Using an outdated vaccine schedule
- Ignoring dental, vision, or hearing care
- Continuing every screening indefinitely without discussing benefits and risks
- Stopping screening based only on age
- Failing to check insurance coverage
- Waiting for every provider to remind you
- Leaving the appointment without recording the next due date
- Treating a new symptom as a screening issue instead of scheduling an evaluation
Keeping up with preventive care does not require memorizing every medical recommendation. Schedule regular reviews, maintain a simple record, and ask your health care provider which checkups, screenings, and vaccines are appropriate for your age, history, and current health. Record what you complete, confirm the results, and add the next due date to your calendar. A manageable system can help you stay current without allowing preventive care to become another overwhelming responsibility.
Related Guides
- Understanding What Healthy Aging Really Means
- Knowing Which Health Changes to Discuss With Your Doctor
- Preparing for Medical Appointments
- What to Bring to an Appointment
- Making & Managing Appointments
- Tracking Health Information & Symptoms
- Recognizing Changes in Memory & Thinking
- Maintaining Strength, Balance & Mobility
- Preventing Falls at Home
- Organizing Important Personal Information
- Using a Calendar, Planner & To-Do List
- Remembering Important Tasks & Responsibilities
Medical guidance was checked against the current CDC adult immunization schedule, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations, and Medicare preventive-service information.
This guide provides general education and does not replace individualized care from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.
