{"id":886,"date":"2015-12-23T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-23T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=886"},"modified":"2020-07-17T14:24:54","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T18:24:54","slug":"benefits-annual-doctor-checkups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/","title":{"rendered":"7 reasons you should get an annual physical"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re running a fever, battling an excruciating migraine, or endlessly coughing, a trip to the doctor\u2019s office is an obvious choice. But checking in with your physician when you\u2019re feeling fine? Not so obvious\u2014however, it\u2019s just as important. Getting an annual physical examination is one of the biggest keys to maintaining good health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is an annual physical exam? It\u2019s a series of tests, conducted by your primary care physician, that measure your overall well-being. They can be an important first-line of defense against many serious health conditions, says <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maria Vila, DO, a family medicine specialist and a medical advisor for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emedihealth.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eMediHealth<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnnual checkups or physical exams are critical since many patients will not have screening tests for cancers and other conditions otherwise,\u201d she says \u201cWe tend to only go to the doctor when we are sick but most of the screening tests are not done at those sick visits so they must take time to do this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is included in an annual physical exam?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yearly physicals are performed by your primary care physician\u2014usually an internist or a family medicine doctor\u2014and typically include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Vital signs check: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your doctor will check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and your respiratory rate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Blood tests: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A complete blood count will check for anemia and evaluate your white blood cell levels. A metabolic panel will evaluate your electrolytes, kidney, and liver functions and blood sugar levels. A fasting lipid panel will check your cholesterol levels. Most doctors recommend getting bloodwork done every year.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Urinalysis: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urine tests can check for many different conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Physical exam: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a head-to-toe check by your doctor, and will vary depending on gender and age. This should also include a once-over for any suspicious moles or other skin lesions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Cancer screenings: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This also differs by age and gender. If you\u2019re a woman over 40, for example, you may get a mammogram to screen for breast cancer. If you\u2019re a man over 50, you may have your blood checked for a prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Vaccination check: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your doctor will look at your immunization records to see if you are up to date and may order vaccines.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Mood check: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your intake questionnaire will likely include a couple of questions about your recent mental state of mind to keep an eye out for any potential mood disorders.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a patient, you can prepare for your checkup in a few ways, according to Dr. Vila. One, ask if your doctor will be doing the bloodwork in-office or if you will be sent to a lab. If it\u2019s in-office, you will likely need to fast for eight hours ahead of time for the lipid panel. Two, bring a list of all the medications you take\u2014both prescription and over the counter\u2014so your doctor can draft a complete medical history. (For that medical history, you may also need to request medical records from your previous healthcare provider.) And three, dress in clothes that will be easy to remove, as you\u2019ll have to swap out your outfit for a medical gown.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ask-a-doctor-annual-physical-exam\/\"><b>Questions to ask your doctor at your annual exam\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who should get a yearly physical?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical professionals don\u2019t always agree on whether an annual physical is necessary for otherwise healthy people. (The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wakehealth.edu\/Specialty\/p\/Primary-Care\/Annual-Physical-Exam\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Institutes of Health released its own schedule for exams<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, based on age and gender, which ranges from once every five years to once every year.) But many doctors like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mercydocs.com\/overlea-personal-physicians\/our-doctors\/primary-care-doctors\/christina-gasbarro-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christina M. Gasbarro<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, a primary care physician at Mercy Personal Physicians at Overlea in Baltimore, Maryland, think it\u2019s a good idea to come in annually.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s a great way to build a relationship and go over screening tests that patients should be getting,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, according to Dr. Gasbarro, there are a few groups who really do need to make sure to get a yearly exam, including those with a family history of cancers, heart disease, or thyroid disorders; those who are overweight or obese; those over 40 years old (especially for women who need annual mammograms); and athletes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/things-should-not-keep-from-doctor\/\"><b>5 things you shouldn\u2019t keep from your doctor<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7 reasons why you should get an annual physical exam<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Establish a baseline<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Detecting unknown health issues isn\u2019t the only reason for a well visit. Seeing your doctor when you\u2019re healthy helps your doctor understand specific needs and baseline functions\u2014such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. What\u2019s normal for one patient may not be normal for another, and establishing a baseline helps your doctor know what\u2019s right for you. That\u2019s why it\u2019s also important for you to bring in a list of all the drugs you are taking and sketch out as detailed of a family history (including information about your parents, grandparents, and siblings) as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Build a strong relationship with your healthcare provider<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a patient knows and trusts his or her physician, the quality of care increases. According to a study published in <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0094207\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PlosOne<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a better doctor-patient relationship has a small, but significant impact on patient health. As the doctor becomes more familiar with you and your health, it\u2019s easier to know more quickly when something is amiss. Your doctor is better able to assist you when you are honest and open to taking advice.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Cut down on specialist appointments<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of the things you go to a specialist for can actually be done by your primary care physician. For instance, if you\u2019re a woman and typically go to a gynecologist for your pelvic exam, pap smear, breast exam, and mammogram, you can likely have all of that done during your yearly physical examination. Or if you typically go to a dermatologist for an annual mole check, your primary care physician should be able to handle that, too. Plus, specialist appointments often have a higher health insurance copay than primary care visits, so you\u2019ll be saving money too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Catch minor\u2014and potentially major\u2014health complications early on<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given all of the tests your physician will run during your annual checkup, he or she is in a great position to warn you about future concerns (your blood sugar levels indicate you\u2019re pre-diabetic) or diagnose a host of medical conditions (your iron levels are low and you\u2019re anemic). They can even catch many types of cancers\u2014and hopefully in the early stages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Really, the list of potential diagnoses goes on and on, says Dr. Vila. \u201cAnnual check-ups or physical exams can discover many health conditions including: heart murmurs, high blood pressure, renal insufficiency (decreased kidney function), liver inflammation, vitamin deficiencies, high cholesterol, skin cancer and other skin conditions, breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, and colon cancer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Update vaccinations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaccinations are a safe and effective way to prevent disease and, depending on your age, you may need a new one\u2014or one for the first time. For instance, the age range for the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/hpv-vaccine-older-age\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HPV vaccine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was recently extended up to the age of 45, for both men and women. If you haven\u2019t received it yet, your doctor may recommend it. Keeping current with vaccinations helps you save money in the long run by preventing diseases that could be costly to treat and cause you to miss work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/vaccinations-older-adults\/\"><b>Vaccinations to consider once you turn 50<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Manage and review prescriptions<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before your routine physical, your physician can review your electronic health record and see what prescriptions you are currently using. This allows healthcare providers to verify that your prescriptions won\u2019t interact with any over-the-counter drugs or supplements you are taking, so you can be sure that you\u2019re getting the safest and most efficient treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you feel like your prescription is no longer doing for you what it should, you can discuss recalibrating the dosage or trying a new medication all together. (You never want to change up your drugs without consulting with your physician first.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Provide guidance<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there is anyone you can trust to have the facts when it comes to your health and habits, it\u2019s your doctor. He or she can provide the guidance and tips you need to stop or cut back on unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and overeating, or even how to be more active. Additionally, your doctor can connect you to resources or suggest other preventive services. This is your opportunity to have all of your health concerns addressed!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>SingleCare can help<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During your routine physical, your doctor may identify an ailment or health problem for which you need to take a prescription medication. With a free SingleCare card, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/singlecare-pharmacy-savings-card-accepted\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you can save up to 80%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on your prescriptions at more than 35,000 pharmacies, including CVS, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and many more.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you\u2019re running a fever, battling an excruciating migraine, or endlessly coughing, a trip to the doctor\u2019s office is an obvious choice. But checking in with your physician when you\u2019re feeling fine? Not so obvious\u2014however, it\u2019s just as important. Getting an annual physical examination is one of the biggest keys to maintaining good health. What [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":11093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[729],"coauthors":[8215],"class_list":["post-886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wellness","tag-doctor-visits","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Do I need an annual physical exam? - The Checkup<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Unsure whether a yearly physical is necessary? Learn what&#039;s included in an annual physical exam, who should get one, and how to save money on health care.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 reasons you should get an annual physical\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn why this yearly visit is a key component to maintaining your health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Checkup\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-12-23T15:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-07-17T18:24:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Amy Wilkinson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"7 reasons you should get an annual physical\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Learn why this yearly visit is a key component to maintaining your health\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SingleCare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SingleCare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Amy Wilkinson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"SingleCare Team\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/403ef50a9f402fb9ce49c429659555f5\"},\"headline\":\"7 reasons you should get an annual physical\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-12-23T15:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-07-17T18:24:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1469,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Doctor visits\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Wellness\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/\",\"name\":\"Do I need an annual physical exam? - The Checkup\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-12-23T15:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-07-17T18:24:54+00:00\",\"description\":\"Unsure whether a yearly physical is necessary? Learn what's included in an annual physical exam, who should get one, and how to save money on health care.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"annual physical benefits - doctor with checklist\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"7 reasons you should get an annual physical\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Checkup, a health blog by SingleCare\",\"description\":\"Read the latest in prescription, wellness, and healthcare news\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"SingleCare\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/placeholderimage-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/placeholderimage-1.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"SingleCare\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/singlecare\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/SingleCare\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/singlecare\\\/?hl=en\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/singlecare\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCd9kiPIjCQw95-2BHCYePKA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/403ef50a9f402fb9ce49c429659555f5\",\"name\":\"SingleCare Team\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=gcda8e0f4c5718cb7f68c0ee812f6fafb\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"SingleCare Team\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.singlecare.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/singlecareteam\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Do I need an annual physical exam? - The Checkup","description":"Unsure whether a yearly physical is necessary? Learn what's included in an annual physical exam, who should get one, and how to save money on health care.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"7 reasons you should get an annual physical","og_description":"Learn why this yearly visit is a key component to maintaining your health","og_url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/","og_site_name":"The Checkup","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare","article_published_time":"2015-12-23T15:30:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2020-07-17T18:24:54+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Amy Wilkinson","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"7 reasons you should get an annual physical","twitter_description":"Learn why this yearly visit is a key component to maintaining your health","twitter_creator":"@SingleCare","twitter_site":"@SingleCare","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Amy Wilkinson","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/"},"author":{"name":"SingleCare Team","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/403ef50a9f402fb9ce49c429659555f5"},"headline":"7 reasons you should get an annual physical","datePublished":"2015-12-23T15:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2020-07-17T18:24:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/"},"wordCount":1469,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png","keywords":["Doctor visits"],"articleSection":["Wellness"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/","name":"Do I need an annual physical exam? - The Checkup","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png","datePublished":"2015-12-23T15:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2020-07-17T18:24:54+00:00","description":"Unsure whether a yearly physical is necessary? Learn what's included in an annual physical exam, who should get one, and how to save money on health care.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Blog_041320_Annual-physical-benefits-1.png","width":1920,"height":1080,"caption":"annual physical benefits - doctor with checklist"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/benefits-annual-doctor-checkups\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"7 reasons you should get an annual physical"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/","name":"The Checkup, a health blog by SingleCare","description":"Read the latest in prescription, wellness, and healthcare news","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"SingleCare","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/placeholderimage-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/placeholderimage-1.jpg","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"SingleCare"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare","https:\/\/x.com\/SingleCare","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/singlecare\/?hl=en","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/singlecare\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCd9kiPIjCQw95-2BHCYePKA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/403ef50a9f402fb9ce49c429659555f5","name":"SingleCare Team","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=gcda8e0f4c5718cb7f68c0ee812f6fafb","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7c56ea35da6164263b446caa5424dd8beeb331518803b6043b40932812936fb2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"SingleCare Team"},"url":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/author\/singlecareteam\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=886"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/886\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=886"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}