A key way to ensure you remain healthy and to reduce your need for expensive health insurance claims is to be screened for a variety of common health risks at a young age. Screening for illness is more than just an annual doctor's appointment, but rather a testing process that looks for risk factors for the development of illness, as well as for signs that something may already be in place.
Why Do You Need Health Screenings? 
Why should you get health screenings? First, realize that prevention is always the best way to remain healthy. Second, when illnesses and disease are caught at the very first sign of them, treatment is often more effective. Finally, health insurance companies want you to be screened and to maintain your health because, ultimately, it means fewer claims down the road. This means you should be screened on a regular basis and that your health insurance likely covers these tests. There's no reason to put off getting those screenings.
The Most Important Health Assessments and Risks to Screen For
According to a survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as much as 80 percent of chronic disease can be prevented through assessments. This includes the most common conditions, such as:
- Strokes
- Diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Congestive heart failure
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Lung Cancer
- Specific cancers
It is recommended that you be screened for these types of health risks on an ongoing basis throughout your life. For some people, the risks are higher. For example, if you have a family member that's suffered from diabetes or strokes, your risks may be higher, requiring you to take more aggressive measures with screenings. However, even those without a family history of illness should be screened for these risks at least every three to five years.
In many situations, it is best for you to receive more frequent screenings. For example, for women who have a mother or grandmother who suffers from breast cancer, it may be necessary to screen for cancer risks every few years. Your doctor can help you to determine both what you need and what your health insurance helps cover in terms of the types of conditions to be screened for, as well as how often you should do so.
Our priority is your health. Contact Cornerstone Insurance Services for more information on health insurance.