Preventive Health Care Guide 2014–2015
At any stage of life, it’s important to make your health a priority. That means making
healthy lifestyle choices and seeing your doctor regularly. The charts on the following
pages offer health recommendations for you and your family. When you stay up-to-date on
preventive health care, you’re taking action toward a longer, healthier, and happier life.
Adults
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Primary Care Office Visits
Age
When to Visit
19 to 64
Annually
Screening Schedule
Age
Screenings
19 to 26
Height and weight/body mass index (BMI) calculation; blood pressure; Pap test every 3 years for women
(begin screening within 3 years of onset of sexual activity or age 21); chlamydia screening for sexually active
women ages 24 and younger; tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use prevention and cessation
27 to 49
Height and weight/body mass index (BMI) calculation; blood pressure; Pap test every 3 years (at least every
3 years for women who have been sexually active and who have a cervix); tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug
use prevention and cessation; lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) for men age 35 or older and women ages
45 and older; mammogram alone or with clinical breast exam by physician every 1 to 2 years for women
(American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms for women ages 40 and older)
50 to 64
Height and weight/body mass index (BMI) calculation; blood pressure; Pap test every 3 years (at least every 3
years for women who have been sexually active and who have a cervix); tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use
prevention and cessation; lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides); mammogram alone or with clinical breast
exam by physician every 1 to 2 years for women (American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms
for women ages 40 and older); colorectal cancer screening using fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy,
or colonoscopy
Immunization Schedule
Age
Immunizations
19 to 26
Influenza (flu) annually; tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster once every 10 years after a one-time dose of
Tdap; human papillomavirus (HPV)—3 doses if no evidence of vaccine or immunity for women; varicella
(chickenpox)—2 doses if no evidence of vaccine or immunity; MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)—
1 or 2 doses if no evidence of vaccine or immunity
27 to 49
Influenza (flu) annually; tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster once every 10 years after a one-time dose of Tdap;
varicella (chickenpox) —2 doses if no evidence of vaccine or immunity; MMR (measles, mumps,
rubella)—1 or 2 doses if no evidence of vaccine or immunity
50 to 59
Influenza (flu) annually; tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster once every 10 years after a one-time dose of Tdap;
varicella (chickenpox)—2 doses if no evidence of vaccine or immunity
60 to 64
Same as age 50 to 59, plus zoster (shingles)
Patient Education
Age
Important Topics
19 to 64
• Breast self-exam for women
• Dental health
• Diet and exercise
• Injury prevention
• Safe sexual practices
• Safe sun exposure
• Prevention and cessation of tobacco, alcohol,
and illicit drug use
• Testicular exam for men
Preventive Health Care Guide 2014–2015
Expectant Mothers
Children
Regular visits to the doctor are an important part of keeping your child healthy. Through the
stages of your child’s life, Health First Health Plans recommends these tests and immunizations:
Immunizations*
Birth
Hepatitis B
Rotavirus (RV) (2 or 3 doses)
Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP)
1
YES
1–2
mos.
2 mos.
4 mos.
6 mos.
YES
6–18
mos.
12–15
mos.
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15–18
mos.
4–6 years
7–10 years
11–12 years
13–18 years
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES (Td booster
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Td/Tdap)
every 10 years)
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)
YES
YES
YES
Any childhood
immunizations
that were
missed
YES
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
Varicella (chickenpox)
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES (2 doses 6 mos.
Hepatitis A
apart 12–23 mos.)
YES (3-dose
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
series)
Meningococcal (MCV4)
YES
Influenza (flu)
YES First dose at 6 months, then every year thereafter
Prenatal care is essential to keep you and your
baby healthy. Here’s what to expect during
your prenatal visits.
Screenings, Tests, and History
At your first visit, your doctor will check your
health or test for a variety of conditions:
• Blood pressure
• Blood type test and antibody screening
• Chlamydia and syphilis
• Iron deficiency (hemoglobin/hematocrit
testing)
• Hepatitis B virus testing
• Rubella serology (testing for rubella) or
vaccination history
• Varicella (chickenpox) history
On follow-up visits, your doctor will check your:
• Blood pressure (every visit)
• Urine culture (12 to 16 weeks)
Your doctor may also recommend:
• Chorionic villus sampling before 13 weeks or
amniocentesis between 15 and 18 weeks (if
age 35 or older), to help identify the risk for
genetic disorders
• HIV testing
• Multiple marker testing (15 to 18 weeks) to
help identify the risk for birth defects
• Serum alpha-fetoprotein (16 to 18 weeks) to
help identify the risk for genetic disorders
PRIMARY CARE OFFICE VISITS
Birth to 2 years
2 to 6 years
7 to 12 years
13 to 18 years
How often you need well checkups
• 2 to 4 days after birth if discharged less than 48 hrs. after birth
• Between 2 weeks and 1 month
• 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months,
15 months, 18 months
Every year
Every other year
Every year
Screenings
Birth to 2 years
2 to 6 years
7 to 12 years
13 to 18 years
Important Topics
The types of screenings
your child may need
General assessment at birth, including hearing screening
Height, weight, blood pressure
beginning at 3 years; vision
and hearing before 5 years
Height, weight, blood
pressure, BMI
For sexually active girls: chlamydia every year, Pap test every
3 years
IMPORTANT TOPICS
Birth to 2 years
2 to 6 years
7 to 12 years
13 to 18 years
Growth and development
Nutrition (including iron-rich foods for breast-feeding
mothers), discipline, behavior, sleep habits
Discipline and behavior,
nutrition and exercise
Discipline and behavior,
nutrition and exercise
Discipline and behavior, nutrition and exercise, safe sexual
practices
Vehicle safety, including driving
and seat belts, bicycle helmets,
and motorcycles and ATV safety
•
•
•
•
•
Injury prevention
Tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use
Other
Child safety seats, smoke detectors, poison control, keeping
water heater temperature below 120 to 130 degrees, pool
fence, window/stair guards
Effects of secondhand smoke
Dental health (baby bottle tooth decay), safe sun exposure,
CPR training
Seat belts; bicycle helmets;
storage of toxic chemicals,
matches, and firearms; poison
control; smoke detectors
Effects of secondhand smoke
Dental health, safe sun
exposure
Seat belts, bicycle helmets,
smoke detectors, storage of
firearms
Alcohol and illicit drug use cessation
Breast-feeding
Infant safety car seats
Lap/shoulder belts
Nutrition (including adequate calcium and
folic acid)
STD prevention
• Tobacco cessation and effects of
secondhand smoke
*Your child’s doctor may use some combination of vaccines and reduce the
number of shots.
Hepatitis B vaccine can be given at other infant visits as long as there is one
month between the first and second dose, and four months between the
second and third dose. The first dose can be given at the hospital at birth.
1
Prevention and cessation
Dental health, safe sun
exposure
Prevention and cessation
Dental health, safe sun exposure
These recommendations are based on guidelines from the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force for people with average risk. Doctors may have other
recommendations depending on a patient’s individual history, ethnic/racial
group, or other risks.
Preventive Health Care Guide 2014–2015
Adults 65+
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Screening Recommendation
Blood pressure annually
Height and weight/body mass index (BMI) calculation annually
Hearing and vision annually
Lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) annually
Fecal occult blood test annually
Colorectal screening every 5 years, or more often with a family history
For women—Mammogram** and clinical breast exam annually
For women—Cervical cancer screening
For women—Bone mineral density test every 2 years
Vaccine Recommendation
Influenza (flu) annually
Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster once every 10 years
Varicella (chickenpox), 2 doses if no evidence of vaccine or immunity
Zoster (shingles) vaccine, 1 dose
Pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine, 1 dose
Pateient Education Recommendation
Dental exam every 6 to 12 months
Diet and exercise
Injury prevention
Safe sexual practices
Safe sun exposure
Tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use prevention and cessation
For women—Breast self-exam monthly
For men—Testicular self-exam monthly
**Expert recommendations on mammography vary. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms for
women ages 40 and older as long as they are in good health.
Health First Health Plans is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Health First Health Plans depends on
contract renewal. Health First offers health care coverage options through two companies. Health First Health Plans, Inc. offers
Medicare Advantage and Group HMO and POS (point of service) health plans. Health First Insurance, Inc. offers Group and
Individual PPO insurance, including Exchange policies. Health First Health Plans & Insurance does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or health status in the administration of the
plan, including enrollment and benefit determinations.
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