Timing of annual wellness/physical - less than 1 year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are you? Why do you need a physical early?

Why not do it a few months late?

Because if I wait until February, then I miss 2023 without getting a physical. It seems "wasted" with the premium I pay each month. Honestly, I'm not that concerned about my health in my early 40s, but I'm always curious about my labs (always normal, but I kind of want to make sure).

Who cares if you miss it.
I'm Canadian and this is not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

My insurance also considers calendar year, but the doctor is also always scheduling more than 1 year out. Will need to deal with this as I schedule my obgyn annual for next year soon. How can you convince the doctor's office?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year, I had my annual physical in December. For various reasons, I'l like to work on bumping it up earlier in the year, and scheduled it for mid September.

My insurance (Cigna) says that as long as it's billed as preventative, it's 100% covered, since it's in a different calendar year (but less than 12 months). But my provider says there's a chance I still may be billed, despite it being marked as preventative, because it's less than 12 months since my last screening.

What is your experience with bumping up your appts earlier in the calendar year? I always thought that once in a calendar year is covered? Is my provider, or Cigna, incorrect??

My doc's office actually wouldn't schedule a physical for me when I wanted it, it because it was less than 12 months from my last physical and FEP BCBS wouldn't pay for it. I had to schedule for a date that was past the 12-month mark

[Anonymous]

I have cigna for dental and it is 2 check ups per calendar year. Which was handy for my college age son who could get his cleaning at the 5 month mark before going back to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My insurance also considers calendar year, but the doctor is also always scheduling more than 1 year out. Will need to deal with this as I schedule my obgyn annual for next year soon. How can you convince the doctor's office?

OP here. When my provider told me that I might be billed, I told them I'd take it up with Cigna (after calling twice and confirming with 2 different people that I would be 100% covered once per calendar year, or any time in 2023). And they let me make an appointment.

I'll follow up in a few weeks when I actually have my appointments for lap and visit!