Prevention is an important step in staying healthy. By having preventative services and screenings done biannually or annually, you can prevent disease from developing, detect disease early, identify risk for disease, reduce serious complications and provide early treatment when outcomes are more favorable.

As a member of Health Choice Generations, the following screenings are covered:

Bone Mass Measurements - For qualified individuals (generally, this means people at risk of losing bone mass or at risk of osteoporosis), the following services are covered every 2 years or more often if medically necessary: procedures to identify bone mass, detect bone loss or determine bone quality, including a physician's interpretation of the results.

Colorectal Screening - For people 50 and over the following screenings are covered: Fecal occult blood test every 12 months; Flexible sigmoidoscopy (or screening barium enemas an alternative) every 48 months. For people not at high risk of colorectal cancer, the following is covered: Screening colonoscopy every 10 years, but not within 48 months of a screening sigmoidoscopy.
For people at high risk of colorectal cancer, the following are covered: Screening colonoscopy (or screening barium enemas an alternative) every 24 months.

Immunizations - Pneumonia vaccine is given to people 64 and over who are at higher risk for developing invasive pneumococcal disease and to others with increased susceptibility to this disease due to the presence of other illnesses or chronic diseases. Flu shots are given once a year in the fall or winter. Hepatitis B vaccine for those who are at high or intermediate risk of getting Hepatitis B. Other vaccines if you are at risk.

Mammography Screening - One baseline exam between the ages of 35 and 39. One screening every 12 months for women age 40 and older.

Pap Smears, Pelvic Exams, and Clinical Breast Exam - For all women on Medicare, Pap tests, pelvic exams, and clinical breast exams are covered once every 24 months. For women at high risk of cervical cancer or have had an abnormal Pap test and are of childbearing age, 1 Pap test every 12 months.

Prostate Cancer Screening Exams - For men over age 50, the following tests are covered once every 12 months: Digital rectal exam; Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test.

Cardiovascular Disease Testing - Blood tests for the early detection of cardiovascular disease (or abnormalities associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease).

Although most of the preventative illness described above are for women, it is also imperative that men receive preventative services and screenings too. Disease and illness does not discriminate against age, race or gender; it can happen to anyone. And, you are not the only person effected by disease or illness; an illness can also effect a spouse, parents, children, siblings and friends.

Health Choice Generations encourages you to have preventive health screenings and associated services done on a biannual or annual basis, if not sooner. Talk to your physician to setup an exam schedule and determine what is right for you.

If you should have any questions regarding these screenings, call Health Choice Generations Member Services, 7 days a week, 8 am - 8 pm at 1-800-656-8991. TTY users call 1-800-842-4681.