What preventive care do I need every year?
Medicare covers many preventive services at no extra cost. Our Medicare Advantage members may be able to earn HealthyBlue Rewards for completing some of these services.
Your Annual Wellness Visit/Welcome to Medicare Visit
Seeing your doctor every year is one of the best things you can do to take care of your health. Your Annual Wellness Visit is not like seeing your doctor when you’re sick. It’s your time with your doctor to make a plan for your health and discuss any preventive screenings you need this year. Together, you’ll make a plan for your health in the coming year.
If you’re new to Medicare, this visit is called your Welcome to Medicare visit.
Here are some of the things you talk about with your doctor during your Annual Wellness Visit:
• Do I need vaccines (such as flu, pneumonia, shingles, COVID, or RSV?)
• Do I need a colon cancer screening this year?
• What is my blood pressure?
• Am I due for a breast cancer screening?
• Do I need any diabetes screenings or to have my blood sugar checked?
Call your primary care doctor today to schedule your Annual Wellness Visit. You can also find an in-network provider by logging in to your online member account. Once you’re logged in, click Find & Get Care from the dropdown menu and then select Find a Doctor & More.
Annual Vaccines
Flu vaccine
Thinking of skipping your flu shot? Getting a flu shot won’t make you sick — getting the flu will. Take the flu seriously. Your Florida Blue Medicare plan covers a flu shot every year. Your flu shot is offered at no extra cost when you get it from a network doctor or pharmacy, or at a Florida Blue Center. Getting a flu shot is especially important for people with chronic conditions who are at high risk of serious complications from the flu.
Shingles vaccine
Shingles is a painful condition that affects the nerves and causes blisters and a rash with a burning sensation. One of the best ways to prevent shingles is with the two-dose vaccine given six months apart. Most adults age 50 years and older should get vaccinated. Ask your doctor if you need the shingles vaccine.
Pneumonia vaccine
Pneumococcal disease poses a risk of serious illness and even death in older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults 65 and over get the vaccination each year.
Colon cancer screening
Don’t put off this important test. Colon cancer screenings help find problems early, when they may be easier to treat. There are different types of colon cancer screenings available; ask your doctor which type of screening is right for you. Your doctor will let you know which test is best for you based on your health and family history. Some of these tests can be done in the privacy of your home and require no preparation.
Breast cancer screening
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women behind skin cancers. Mammograms can find breast cancer early – one in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. If you haven’t had your mammogram this year, call your doctor to schedule it today!
Is it time for your routine mammogram?
Doctors recommend having a breast cancer screening at least every two years.* Having breast cancer screenings, like routine mammograms, can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat. If you haven’t had your mammogram this year, call your primary care doctor or OB-GYN to schedule it today!
What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is a low dose X-ray of the breast that radiologists use to find signs of breast cancer and look for breast changes. The machines are designed to look only at breast tissue and results can often show abnormal areas in the breast. Mammograms are the best screening tests for detecting breast cancer early, when it’s small, hasn’t spread, and is easier to treat.
Who should get breast cancer screenings?
• Women ages 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.
• Women ages 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms.
What are some risk factors for breast cancer?
Examples of factors you cannot change:
• Having a family history of breast cancer
• Inheriting certain gene changes
• Having dense breast tissue
Examples of lifestyle-related factors:
• Drinking alcohol
• Being overweight or obese
• Not being physically active
What are common breast cancer signs and symptoms?
• A new lump or mass in the breast
• Swelling of all or part of a breast
• Breast or nipple pain
• Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collar bone
How much does a routine mammogram cost?
Your Florida Blue Medicare plan covers your routine mammogram at no extra cost when you use an in-network provider.
Need help finding an in-network provider?
Go to Find a Doctor to see doctors and pharmacies in your plan’s network.
Questions or need help scheduling your in-network mammogram?
Call Member Services at 1-800-926-6565 (TTY: 1-800-955-8770).
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time, seven days a week, from October 1 through March 31, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. From April 1 through September 30, our hours are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday, except for major holidays.
*According to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Screenings for people with diabetes
Diabetes affects all parts of your body. It’s important to get the screenings and tests you need to manage your diabetes and avoid these complications.
• It's a leading cause of blindness in adults. Protect your sight. Schedule your retinal eye exam with a network optometrist or ophthalmologist today.
• It’s also important to get your urine tested for protein every year to protect your kidney health.
• Your A1c test measures your blood sugar levels and it's used to monitor how well your diabetes treatment is working over time. It's a critical step in forming your game plan to manage diabetes with your diabetes care team. Catch signs of complications earlier by getting your blood sugar checked regularly. Make an appointment today for your A1c test.