A preventive visit is one of the simplest ways to catch problems early, and for most insured adults in the U.S. it costs nothing out of pocket. A little preparation makes it far more useful.
Preventive care is about the problems you don’t know you have yet: high blood pressure that causes no symptoms, prediabetes, early cancers that screening can find. The preventive visit is where you and your clinician work out which of those checks you actually need.
What usually happens
| Part of the visit | What it involves |
|---|---|
| History | Your health, medicines, family history, smoking, alcohol, sleep and mood |
| Measurements | Blood pressure, weight and often body mass index |
| Screening review | Which tests are due based on your age, sex and risk factors |
| Vaccines | Which ones you need, based on the current adult schedule |
| Referrals and orders | Lab work, mammograms, colon cancer screening or other tests |
Not every visit includes a full head-to-toe exam or routine blood work for everyone; what’s done depends on your age and risk.
How coverage works
Under the Affordable Care Act, most private plans must cover services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (graded A or B), recommended vaccines and certain women’s and children’s preventive services, with no cost sharing when you use in-network providers. In June 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the system that makes these Task Force recommendations count for coverage.
Medicare covers a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit within the first 12 months of Part B, then a yearly Annual Wellness Visit to update a personalized prevention plan. Neither is a full physical exam.
Please note
“Preventive” covers screening when you don’t have symptoms. If you have symptoms, or a test is done to monitor a known condition, normal cost sharing may apply.
How to prepare
- List your medicines, including supplements and over-the-counter products, with doses.
- Update your family history, especially heart disease, diabetes and cancers in parents and siblings.
- Write down your top questions, most important first.
- Check what’s due, using the guides on this site, so you can ask about specific screenings.
- Bring past results if you’re seeing a new clinician.
After the visit
Make sure you know which tests were ordered, how you’ll get the results and when your next checkup should be. If something isn’t clear, ask for it in writing or through the patient portal.
Two numbers almost every checkup includes are covered in our guides to blood pressure screening and cholesterol tests.
Key points
- Most private health plans must cover recommended preventive services without a copay or deductible when you use an in-network provider.
- A preventive visit usually covers your health history, blood pressure and weight, and a review of which screenings and vaccines are due.
- Medicare covers a yearly Annual Wellness Visit focused on prevention planning; it isn’t the same as a full physical exam.
- Bring a list of your medicines, any changes in family history and your top two or three questions.
Common questions
Do I need a checkup every year?
Recommendations differ by age and health. Many adults benefit from a regular preventive visit, and some screenings, such as blood pressure, are suggested yearly for certain people. Ask your clinician what schedule makes sense for you.
Why did I get a bill after a free checkup?
If a new problem or an ongoing condition is addressed during the visit, part of it may be billed as a regular office visit. If you plan to raise other issues, ask at the start how the visit will be billed.
Where can I go without insurance?
Federally funded community health centers provide preventive care on a sliding fee scale based on income, whether or not you’re insured.
This guide explains general U.S. screening recommendations and is not medical advice. Your clinician may recommend a different schedule based on your health, history and test results.