Now, more than ever, the way we manage our health is vitally important. Though it’s important to go to the doctor when we need to, it’s also necessary to go in for routine checkups. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says regular health exams can identify problems before they start.

Health Testing Centers looked into a 2019 report by the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and found some surprising results about just how often Americans are going for health checks.

They found that for those making less than $15,000 dollars a year, 21% said they have “never” been insured. On March 10, health insurance companies announced they would be waiving costs and copays for COVID-19 patients, offering relief to Americans worried they wouldn’t be able to afford coronavirus testing and/or treatment.

We encourage our members to use their health benefits and visit their primary care doctor for regular checkups, diagnostics, and other preventive treatment. People must proactively manage their health for better health.

Though four in five Americans have health insurance, one in four didn’t get a routine checkup last year.
Standard physicals should be scheduled and carried out every year.

The rate of yearly checkups for those without health insurance was just 50%.
The Census Bureau reported that in 2018, 27.5 million people — or 8.5% of everyone in the US — didn’t have health insurance. The number of uninsured people increased by 1.9 million people compared to 2017, when it stood at 25.6 million people, or 7.9% of the US population.

Nearly 1% of Americans, or about 3.31 million people, reported that they have never had a checkup in their life.
A regular routine appointment with a primary care doctor, without any other tests involved, can cost anywhere from $150 to $300 without insurance.

21% of people making less than $15,000 a year reported they had never been insured.
Health Affairs reported strong evidence linking health and income levels. Not only does low income often lead to worse health, but those in poor health are reported to make less money.

Only 66% of Americans visited the dentist last year, though the American Dental Association recommends at least one yearly visit to already healthy individuals.
Since dental health is reflected by personal oral care habits, dentists at the American Dental Association don’t have the same recommended number of yearly visits for everyone. They say the minimum is at least once per year, but those with compromised immune systems or poor oral hygiene may need more regular visits to prevent more serious problems.

Less than 50% of Americans were tested for HPV last year, even though it is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the United States.
More than half of women (51%) had never had an HPV test, according to the data from Health Testing Centers.

Categories: Employee Benefits, Wellness

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