What is included in physical exam?

[Free4Life11]

I can get 1 physical per year, covered 100%, but I am wondering what it includes.

Mainly I want to get a full STD test (all of then) and also have my blood checked for cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure. Are these things included in a physical exam?

ETA -- preventative care is supposedly covered 100%, so if these aren't included in a physical exam, do you think they would be considered preventative?

 

[Aisling]

Be forwarned...my DH went in for a knee injury, the doctor noticed he hadn't been in for a few years, and decided to do a routine physical. Well, he ended up getting a RECTAL with that physical exam. (And our MD is a woman, to make it worse for him! LOL) His knee has to be gangrenous and filled with maggots before he'll ever go back to the doctor's again!

 

[daisax]

A routine physical would usually include a complete blood panel (cholesterol, glucose, all the kidney and liver function stuff). They would send you to have blood drawn outside of the actual exam, however, whether to a lab right in their practice or another local one at a different time. STDs aren't in a standard blood panel, but I don't know if you would need extra blood drawn or whether it would just be more tests run from the initial sample.

Blood pressure and possibly an EKG would be done during the exam, along with a pelvic (and pap smear) and breast exam if you aren't seeing a GYN regularly. Guys would get their guy parts checked Rectal exam (not a big deal and over quickly). Eyes, ears, skin, throat, reflexes (foot and knee), plus feeling the abdomen to check for the position and size of various internal organs.

 

[Floridagal23]

You should call your ins company to see what is covered through an annual exam with either an internist or gyn. They will vary widely..

 

[kilee]

I'd also compare what your insurance company states will be covered w/ what your doctor offices says they will be billing and coding. We have a patient come in for a what they expect to be a routine physical.

They request an STD screening and discuss birth control. Well these will incur additional charges outside of preventative for "birth control and STD counseling". Which can run $50-100.

Same thing w/ smoking cessation. You go for a routing physical....doctor asks "do you smoke" then discusses smoking cessation for 3 at least minutes and they've met the requirements to bill for it. Another charge that will typically run $20-50.

These are all add-ons.

 

[Floridagal23]

FWIW, I would call your local planned parenthood to check out their rates - they are usually on a sliding scale depending on insurance and ability to pay. They can do the whole realm of STD testing for you if your ins doesn't cover it through your annual physical.

 

[goofyernmost]

I can get 1 physical per year, covered 100%, but I am wondering what it includes.

Mainly I want to get a full STD test (all of then) and also have my blood checked for cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure. Are these things included in a physical exam?

ETA -- preventative care is supposedly covered 100%, so if these aren't included in a physical exam, do you think they would be considered preventative?

So I'm going to assume that you have never had a physical before and just say this...cholesterol, glucose (actual blood tests) and blood pressure (tested with a cuff) are usually standard procedures in any physical. STD's may not be a standard test and be triggered more by request or life styles discovered during history taking. Ask it it is included with the exam. Be sure to do so because blood testing is an expensive procedure.

Be forwarned...my DH went in for a knee injury, the doctor noticed he hadn't been in for a few years, and decided to do a routine physical. Well, he ended up getting a RECTAL with that physical exam. (And our MD is a woman, to make it worse for him! LOL) His knee has to be gangrenous and filled with maggots before he'll ever go back to the doctor's again!

My goodness...what cave has he been living in. Prostate cancer is a serious thing and can be spotted early by use of the "rectal" exam. Absolutely a common procedure after a certain age or, again, prompted by information revealed during the history taking portion. Personally, and I might be revealing to much here, I prefer a female doctor...they are way more gentle.