Forty-five percent of Americans say they don’t know that they should have an annual check-up – and half are unaware that if they have insurance, there’s no cost for the check-up, according to a survey of insured adults conducted by Cigna.
In fact, most Americans are more in tune with when their pets need to have their shots than when they should go for their own check-up.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Americans use preventive services at only about half the recommended rate, despite insurance covering 100 percent of these costs, Dr. Isaac Martinez, utilization management medical director at Cigna, said in a news release today.
Cigna found that a third of Americans say they visit their healthcare professionals only when a specific health problem arises. Less than half don’t realize that the annual check-up also includes vaccinations and immunizations as well as the opportunity to discuss healthy eating and exercise.
Cigna’s survey found that Americans are better at tracking their pets’ health, with 85 percent of pet owners saying they know when it’s time for their pet to get a shot.
Yet when it comes to their own health, only 50 percent of Americans know their blood pressure level – a key barometer for assessing the likelihood of potential heart disease and stroke – and only 20 percent know their biometric numbers (such as BMI), even though keeping one’s BMI, cholesterol and blood pressure in check can also help a person save on significant out-of-pocket costs, the release said.
