Our insurance plan is once per calendar year, and I have had the medical receptionist tell me (incorrectly) that they need to be 365 days apart.

But, really, how hard is it for insurance to cope with this problem? Are people out there really going out and trying to have their child do multiple well-child visits? To me, it seems like they should be able to program an algorithm that can account for schedule variations without these frustrating rules that lend to having physicals 6 months off from the child's DOB. It's bad enough that it must be scheduled so far in advance with the doctor!

The shots matter when you have a baby and toddler PP. My son's bday is in mid April and now that he is 8, he is going at the end of May/beginning of June due to only being allowed to go for well visits a year apart. I always thought it was standard. The same is true for myself and my GP and GYN appts.

What does the birthday have to do with it?

Anonymous wrote:Once my kids were 5 I didn't worry so much about going anywhere near their birthdays. We usually do it during summer when they're off school.

Same here. We are allowed one visit per calendar year. Everyone goes at the same time (three kids). I used to schedule all visits around birthdays until it became a big hassle and I realized that it didn't matter when they went, only that they were seen.

I have Aetna Innovation Health and it is once per calendar year.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, our insurance works that way too. (have to be a full 12 months apart at least.) Yes, in practice, that means they get later and later in the year, since I never schedule them for exactly the same day a year later. Our kids are 10 and 8, and one has a winter birthday and one a summer birthday, and I always schedule their well visits together, for convenience. It doesn't have to be right at their birthday.

I'm not sure how we got so off, ourselves; but I also have kids who are 18 months apart that we schedule at the same time.

Yes, our insurance works that way too. (have to be a full 12 months apart at least.) Yes, in practice, that means they get later and later in the year, since I never schedule them for exactly the same day a year later. Our kids are 10 and 8, and one has a winter birthday and one a summer birthday, and I always schedule their well visits together, for convenience. It doesn't have to be right at their birthday.

Insurance companies typically use on of two models, either a "Once a calendar year" policy or a "at least 365 days apart" policy. You need to clarify which yours is -- it helps going forward to be clear so you understand the rules each year when scheduling. Your doctor's office probably can clarify -- they usually know which method each major insurer they deal with uses.

Yep. Now, if you happen to change insurance providers, remember that you can then reschedule to get back on track.