Taking care of your health doesn’t have to wait until something feels wrong. The best time to take care of yourself is before problems start! This is called preventive care. It’s about staying healthy now and avoiding bigger health issues later on.
Preventive care includes regular checkups for your body, mouth, eyes, ears and even your mind. These visits help catch small issues before they turn into bigger ones, and sometimes even stop problems before they start.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of preventive care.
Dental Preventive Care
Seeing the dentist twice a year is an important part of preventive care. During a dental checkup, your dentist:
- Looks for cavities, gum disease and tooth damage
- Checks for signs of oral cancer
- Gives your teeth a deep cleaning to remove plaque and tartar
What you can do at home:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Floss once a day
- Limit sugary drinks and snacks
How dental insurance helps:
Even if your teeth feel fine, you may have small issues you can’t see or feel yet. Preventive dental services are usually covered at little or no cost with most dental insurance plans. That means you can stay on top of your oral health and catch issues early by visiting an in-network dentist. Regular checkups not only keep your smile healthy but also help you avoid more expensive treatments down the road.
Vision Preventive Care
Many people don’t get their eyes checked unless their vision changes. But regular eye exams do more than just update your glasses or contact prescription.
Your eye doctor can find:
- Changes in vision, like nearsightedness or farsightedness
- Eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts
- Signs of other health issues, like high blood pressure or diabetes
Eye exams are quick and painless and may catch issues long before you notice symptoms.
How to protect your eyes:
- Wear sunglasses outside to block UV rays
- Take breaks from screens to avoid eye strain
- Use protective eyewear when doing yard work, home repairs or playing sports
How vision insurance helps:
Most vision insurance plans cover annual eye exams, making it easy and affordable to stay on top of your eye health. By using your benefits each year, you can keep your eyes healthy, update your prescription as needed and even save money on glasses or contacts.
General Preventive Care
Your primary care doctor helps with your overall health. These visits are important, even if you feel fine. Your doctor can:
- Check your blood pressure, weight and cholesterol
- Talk to you about your diet, sleep, stress and exercise
- Give you vaccines to keep you from getting sick
- Order important screenings, like bloodwork or cancer checks
These checkups help you understand your health and stay on track. They also give you a chance to ask questions or talk about any concerns.
Don’t forget to:
- Bring a list of medicines or supplements you take
- Write down any symptoms or health changes
- Ask about family health risks or screenings you may need
Lifestyle habits to incorporate:
- Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains
- Exercise daily
- Get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night
- Limit alcohol and avoid tobacco or vaping
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
How health insurance helps:
Some health insurance plans cover preventive services at no extra cost when you visit an in-network provider. Using your benefits regularly can help catch health issues early, avoid bigger problems later and keep you feeling your best.
Hearing Preventive Care
Hearing is part of your overall well-being, but it’s easy to forget about it. Hearing loss often happens slowly over time, so you might not notice right away. Routine hearing tests can help catch issues early.
Why it matters:
- Hearing loss can affect your social life, safety and even your brain health
- Trouble hearing can lead to isolation, falls or memory problems
- The earlier hearing loss is treated, the better the results
How to protect your hearing:
- Turn down the volume on headphones and TVs
- Wear earplugs at loud events or jobs
- Get a hearing exam, especially if you’re over 50 or notice changes
How insurance helps:
Did you know there’s a connection between hearing and vision loss? Some vision insurance plans, like DeltaVision, offer discounts on hearing exams and hearing aids. These benefits make it easier to act early, before hearing loss starts to affect your quality of life. Be sure to review your benefits or talk to your HR benefits administrator to see what’s covered.
Mental Health Preventive Care
Taking care of your mental health can help prevent bigger problems down the road. Just like going to a checkup or getting a dental cleaning, seeing a mental health professional for regular support is a smart and healthy choice.
Preventive mental health care can include:
- Talking to a therapist or counselor before stress or anxiety becomes overwhelming
- Building healthy habits like sleep, exercise and social connection
- Learning coping skills for tough times
- Screenings for depression, anxiety or other conditions during regular doctor visits
What you can do at home:
- Practice mindfulness or deep breathing
- Spend time doing things you enjoy
- Stay connected with people you trust
- Ask for help when you need it; there’s no shame in seeking support
How health insurance helps:
Many health insurance plans include coverage for mental health services like therapy, counseling and screenings. Some even offer virtual or low-cost options, making it easier to get the support you need.
Preventive Care is Peace of Mind
The truth is simple: it’s easier to stay healthy than it is to fix a health problem. That’s why preventive care is so important. And the good news is that most insurance plans cover preventive care at little or no cost.
By taking care of your whole-body health now, you give yourself the best chance to live a long, healthy life. So don’t wait until something hurts or feels off. Schedule your next checkups today!
