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Preparing for a checkup
Are you:
- A new health plan member?
- Unsure if you need a checkup?
- Wondering if it’s worth your time?
Getting a checkup, also called a routine physical exam or preventive care visit, is an important step for you and your doctor to assess your health, discuss concerns, and develop a plan for you to stay healthy. Your plan may include getting preventive screenings, tests, or vaccines.
Your doctor will also recommend follow-up steps. They can tell you how often you should get checkups, based on your age, gender, health status, and known health issues.
Here are some things to know about your upcoming visit so you have an idea of what to expect.
Why you should get a checkup
Getting a regular checkup lets your doctor look at your general health and, when possible, help lower your risk of getting sick in the future. This might mean making sure you’re managing any ongoing conditions and completing recommended preventive screenings or tests to focus on any new conditions. Your doctor will also review your medical history, current medications, vaccinations, and screenings. Then they’ll talk with you about your concerns and health goals.
What happens during a checkup?
Vital signs: A nurse or medical assistant may check your height, weight, pulse, blood oxygen level, and blood pressure. They may ask you about your health and lifestyle. Questions may include if you smoke, drink alcohol, exercise, have any allergies, and have had any recent health issues or surgeries. They may also ask you to change into a hospital gown and wait for your doctor to arrive.
Health history: Your doctor may start the visit by asking questions about your health and your family’s health history. They’ll use this information to check your risk for certain diseases that can be inherited from your parents. Then they’ll decide what you need to do to lower or manage your risks.
Exam: Your doctor will do a series of checks depending on your medical history and concerns. For example, they may listen to your heart and lungs while you breathe. They may also examine specific parts of your body.
Tests and screenings: Your doctor may have you get certain blood tests, screenings, and vaccinations based on your age, gender, and health history. If any of your test results are outside the normal range, your doctor will explain what the results mean.
Concerns and questions: You’ll have your doctor’s full attention during the visit. Be sure to tell them about any concerns or questions you have about your health.
How to prepare for your checkup
It’s always good to come prepared for your checkup. This way you can make the best use of your visit.
Arrive early: This gives you time to fill out forms and pay a copay if needed. Make sure to bring your health plan member ID card and your driver’s license or identification card.
Put together a list of your health information: If you’re a new member, bring documentation related to your medical history as well as anything your doctor should know. Here are some suggestions:
- Recent test or screening results, especially if you’re managing an ongoing condition
- A list of prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements you’re taking
- Any health issues you may have
- Questions you’d like your doctor to answer. Here are a few to get you started:
- Do I need any vaccinations, screenings, or tests?
- What can I do to improve my health?
- How can I reach you if I have any questions after I leave?
- What do I do if I have an urgent health issue?
Is this your first time seeing your doctor? You may need to ask your last doctor to send your medical records to your new doctor’s office. Or ask your new doctor’s office if they can request the records for you.
What if you want your doctor to treat a symptom?
Since a checkup is a preventive service, your health plan may cover it at no out-of-pocket cost to you. But if you have a symptom that you want treated or checked during your exam, and your doctor performs tests, then you may billed a copay for care after your visit.
Your preventive care at Kaiser Permanente
At Kaiser Permanente, we’re committed to helping you stay healthy with preventive care. Keeping on top of your preventive care can help you avoid illness or catch health problems early on before they become serious. If you’re a Kaiser Permanente member, your entire medical history is available in your electronic health record. This makes it easier for your doctor to access your history and recommend preventive services. We encourage you to see the preventive services reminders recommended for you.
You can also talk to your Kaiser Permanente doctor about when and how often you need a regular checkup. To make an appointment with your doctor, sign in to your kp.org account.
If you don’t have a primary care doctor, you can choose one at any time. Select your region, search “Doctors,” and enter your ZIP code and “primary care” as the keyword. Then browse the list of doctors by gender, languages spoken, and more to find the right one for you.