National Women’s Checkup Day is held annually on the second Monday of May. This is included during National Women’s Health Week, which starts on Mother’s Day each year. This year, National Women’s Checkup Day is May 9.
Annual checkups for women, or well-woman visits, focus on overall health and wellness. The main goals of annual checkups are to continue documenting your health history, setting healthy goals, and of course getting a physical exam to determine your current health concerns, if any.
Prepare For Your Well-Woman Visit
When attending an annual checkup, it’s helpful to prepare ahead of time. Request any medical records since your last annual checkup be sent to your primary care physician before your appointment. By providing records ahead of time, your doctor can be fully aware of your medical history at your appointment.
Make a list of current eating and activity habits, any concerns you may have, and possible new information to provide your primary care physician. Having this ready can help you make the most of your well-woman visit. Additionally, preparing a list of questions for your doctor helps to avoid missing the opportunity to discuss important matters in person together.
Bring something to write with to your appointment so you don’t have to rely on your memory. This checkup is also a great opportunity to ask for resources on health and wellness topics that intrigue or affect you.
Health Insurance Coverage
The Affordable Care Act requires insurance plans to cover at least 1 well-woman visit each year. If you don’t have insurance, you may still be able to find a health center in your area to provide an affordable exam. To find a health center near you, search using the HRSA Data Warehouse Find A Health Center website.
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Source: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and NationalToday.com
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