Florida Health Insurance Preventative Care Benefits

Having Florida health insurance preventative care benefits can help you avoid some major health care costs in the future. Preventative care benefits cover a variety of medical testing and appointments based on age and gender. This form of care is meant to catch any potential illnesses or diseases early so treatment can begin before more invasion procedures are necessary. Following is an outline of typical benefits covered under Florida health insurance preventative care benefits.

Benefits of Preventative Care

Preventative care is recommended by doctors and hospitals everywhere in Florida. This is because it reduces the occurrence of further medical intervention in the future. With the development of testing and the advancements made in diagnosis, preventing certain diseases and illnesses is quite possible with the right care. Certain actions can also eliminate the need for costly prescription drugs. Preventative care benefits generally increase with age and the care for adults is quite different than preventative care for children.

What Does it Cover?

For adults ages 20 to 49, preventative care covers well-care visits every 4 years for those in good health. For both men and women, blood pressure checks are covered every two years. Though the majority of immunizations are given in childhood and adolescence, preventative care covers a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine every 10 years, pneumococcal vaccine for those at high risk, yearly flu vaccines for high risk groups and Hepatitis A and B vaccines for those at risk of infection. Generally, cholesterol testing is covered every five years for women 45 and older and men 35 and older.

For adult women aged 20-49 preventative care covers pap tests every 2-3 years, some testing for STDs, and mammograms every 1 to 2 years beginning at age 40 or for those at high risk. Some preventative care plans will cover yearly pap tests because early detection of ovarian and uterine cancer can often lead to a quick treatment plan and full recovery. For women at risk due to family history, some insurance plans will allow for testing more often.

After reaching the age of 50, preventative care takes on a new set of options. For those ages 50-64, well-care visits are covered every two years for both men and women. Blood pressure checks are still covered every 2 years, but yearly stool checks are now covered. This important testing is added because this age group is the most prone to colon cancer. The same vaccines are offered to this age group with the addition of the Shingles vaccine for those 60 and older.

For women in this age group pap smears are offered yearly due to the increased risk of certain types of cancer. Mammograms are also covered yearly and up to twice yearly for high risk women. Added to this age group is yearly osteoporosis screening. For those at high risk, screening may be covered more than once per year. For men in this age group, yearly prostate cancer screening is covered.

For individuals 65 and older, Medicaid becomes available. With Medicaid, preventative care options increase along with the frequency of screenings and check-ups. The benefits already discussed continue to be covered and new ones are added. One important addition is Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening. This is a one time screening for those who are normally healthy and a yearly screening for those with a history of smoking.

Preventative Care for Children

It is important to note that all preventative care plans are different so services covered will vary from plan to plan. For children, preventative care is much different but it is a vital part of developing healthy children. If you have children, having preventative care benefits is crucial in preventing future medical problems.

Preventative care for children begins at birth. Newborn blood screening and the first Hepatitis B vaccine are done with in hours of birth. In the first year of life an average of seven well-care checks are covered. This is to ensure that babies eat properly, get all the required vaccinations and any problems are promptly dealt with. During the first year approximately 21 vaccines will be given.

After the one year mark wellness checks are covered yearly along with all vaccines that are required along the way. This is done until the age of 18 or 21 depending on the coverage and the child’s status as a student. Preventative care for children consists mainly of these yearly check ups and vaccines.

Choosing a Company

Deciding which company to choose for your Florida health insurance preventative care insurance is an important decision. Comparing what different companies have to offer is a vital part of the decision process. You can use the FL health insurance quote comparison tool on this page right now to compare rates and quotes from top companies to see what type of coverage you can find and for what price. Or call an independent agent that can answer your questions immediately. Providing your family with preventative care options is an important part of having a healthy family. Why not enter your zip code above, and start the process now?