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Annual Physical 101: What to Expect and Why It Matters

  • 3 days ago
  • 8 min read

Let's be honest—most of us only think about seeing a doctor when something hurts. But what if you could catch a disease before it ever caused symptoms? That's exactly what an annual physical is designed to do.


An annual physical isn't about treating disease—it's about preventing it. Many serious conditions, including diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, and even certain cancers, often develop silently long before you notice anything is wrong. An annual physical gives your healthcare provider the opportunity to detect these conditions early, when they are often easier to treat and before they have the chance to progress. It's almost always better—both medically and financially—to identify a problem early than to wait until it causes serious complications.


So, let's take a look at what actually happens during an annual physical and why it is one of the most important appointments you can schedule for your health.


What actually happens during an annual physical?

For the most part, an annual physical goes like this: your medical history, family history, medications, and vaccination history will be reviewed. You will then most likely receive a depression and anxiety screening (also known as a PHQ-GAD). 

Of course basic vitals, such as blood pressure, oxygen  saturation, height, weight, pulse, temperature, and your respirations will be measured to ensure you are currently healthy. Depending on where you are, the physician may perform a vision and hearing exam but this isn’t universal for all clinics and facilities. 

The Medical Assistant or nurse will typically draw blood and do an EKG and the physician or provider will come in and perform a heart/lung exam (this is what they are listening for with their stethoscope!), an abdominal exam (pressing across your stomach (or abdomen) to feel for any abnormalities, and check the lymph nodes to ensure no infections or swelling for the physical exam. 

Now I know that is a lot and I think the biggest “what?” moment happens when I mention the bloodwork. You’re probably wondering what is actually included in these tests and why. So here is a chart that breaks it down for you:

I highly recommend that you know or ask what labs the provider/physician is ordering for you because every doctor is different and if you assume that the doctor will send in what you want to be tested for, you risk missing it. So during your annual, I always recommend asking your provider which tests they are sending in and if there is anything else you want to check then request that the lab order be added on and discuss the significance with your provider. Remember, you are your best advocate! Your provider wants to help you and appreciates you wanting to take control of your health. I have a ton of patients call after their annual asking why a test wasn’t added, like testosterone testing, only to be informed that our facility doesn’t actually add that on to annual testing.

It is also worthwhile mentioning that Physicians generally order PSA blood tests for men during the annual physical in order to test for Prostate Cancer (I’ve seen it more commonly tested in men after the age of 35 but as they get older, the provider might prefer to perform a rectal exam to ensure increased accuracy). While this isn’t a foolproof test or way to screen for prostate cancer, it is still generally important to check it yearly to ensure your well being. 


Common screenings: 

And of course, after your annual, your physician might give you an order to get some screenings done. DO NOT ignore these!! Let’s break these down individually:


  1. EKG’s and Heart Disease: 

Many clinics obtain these as part of the Annual depending on multiple factors. One of the most common factors is age where women generally receive one if they are 45 or older and men receive one if they are 35 or older (keep in mind that this practice varies from clinic to clinic but most cardiologists recommend at least getting a baseline EKG from the ages 30-40) Other factors would be a history of blood pressure, cholesterol, any past history of cardiac issues, etc… 


  1. Breast Cancer

ACS recommends women at average risk may start annual screening at age 40, and recommends annual mammography from ages 45–54, with annual or biennial screening after 55 depending on preference. If anything is found, the provider may order an additional ultrasound or biopsy just to investigate further to ensure it is nothing serious. Other organizations, including the USPSTF, recommend biennial screening starting at age 40. Of course, this is just general practice but every patient and their history is unique so some with higher risk of breast cancer may be required to get mammograms more frequently (such as women with close family history, with the positive BRCA gene, or with a past history of breast cancer)


  1. Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer screening is an important part of preventive healthcare for both men and women. For adults at average risk, screening generally begins at age 45. One of the most effective screening methods is a colonoscopy, a procedure where a physician uses a thin, flexible camera to examine the inside of the colon and rectum for abnormal growths called polyps. If precancerous polyps are found, they can often be removed during the same procedure. Your primary care, the one performing your Annual, should give you a referral to a Gastroenterologist to get this done. 


It is super important to note that colorectal cancer has become increasingly common in younger adults, making it more important than ever to stay up to date with recommended screening. While colonoscopy remains the gold standard because it can both detect and remove precancerous polyps, other screening options are also available!!! Here is an infographic for the three most common options: 


Shield testing is fairly new, and I got so excited when I first heard about it! Unlike a colonoscopy, Shield is a simple blood test that looks for biomarkers associated with colorectal cancer, and this technology is part of a growing area of research that may help detect multiple types of cancer in the future. I've already had several patients ask about it, so it's definitely something worth discussing with your healthcare provider. I'll be going much more in depth about how Shield, Cologuard, and colonoscopies compare in a future blog! 


  1. Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer screening is one of the most effective ways to detect abnormal cell changes before they develop into cancer. Screening is typically performed with a Pap smear, which collects a small sample of cells from the cervix to look for precancerous or cancerous changes. It is generally recommended that a female should begin cervical cancer screening at age 21, with the screening method and frequency varying based on age, previous test results, and individual risk factors. Staying up to date with routine screening allows abnormal cells to be identified and treated early, greatly reducing the risk of developing cervical cancer. As always, discuss your personal and family medical history with your healthcare provider, as some individuals may require earlier or more frequent screening. One thing to note is that this is actually separate from the general annual physical. Women are lucky and need to get two preventative visits complete, the general annual physical, and the annual gynecology exam (which includes the Pap).


And don’t forget the vaccines


Additionally, there are, of course, annual vaccines as well and you can bring this up at your appointment if you have any questions! Here are some common ones: 

But how much does this cost?


Finally, I know the biggest concern is “Okay… but this all sounds SUPER expensive!” Actually…not always. I always recommend knowing your benefits because a lot of the time, insurances will actually either completely cover annual physicals (aka preventative care visits) or they will offer incentives so that you get what you need if you see an in-network provider. This often means you won't owe a copay, coinsurance, or deductible for the preventive portion of the visit. Because these services are covered by your insurance, they generally do not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.

Many insurance companies also offer wellness incentive programs that reward members for completing preventive care. Depending on your plan, you may be eligible to receive gift cards, wellness points, premium discounts, contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA), or other rewards simply for completing your annual physical or recommended health screenings. These programs vary by insurance company, so it's worth checking your member portal or calling the customer service number on the back of your insurance card to learn what benefits are available.


Of course, annual physicals are a time to ask general health questions. Keep in mind, and I cannot stress this enough especially when it comes to insurances, if you bring up any concerns such as stomach or chest pain or if the provider finds anything upon exam, this is no longer a preventative care visit, it is now a sick visit because the provider has to address that concern. This means that the visit will not be billed as a wellness check so you will not be eligible for full coverage of the visit or the extra benefits. But the good news is that you can still ask for your medication refills and such (just nothing new :)) With that, here are some questions you may want to ask your provider/physician: 


  1. Am I due for any cancer screenings?

  2. Do I need vaccines?

  3. Should I have my cholesterol checked?

  4. Do I have any risk factors that change my screening schedule?

  5. Should I see any specialists?

  6. This is usually asked at the follow-up after you receive all of your results from the screenings to the lab results. 

  7. What lifestyle changes would improve my health?

  8. When should I schedule my next annual physical? 

    For this question, you generally want to keep it one year and a couple of days from your last physical to ensure your insurance covers the visit but for any AHCCCS insurances, you generally can schedule your annual on December 31st of 2026 and then January 1st of 2027 and it should get covered (this is of course an exaggeration and probably not too helpful for your health so don’t do that but you get the point :))

Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company Before Your Annual Physical

  • Is my annual physical covered at 100%?

  • Does my plan require me to use an in-network provider?

  • Are routine lab tests covered as preventive care?

  • Does my plan offer wellness rewards or incentive programs?

  • If my doctor orders additional testing, how will those services be covered?

I know that was a ton of information but all of this is to say get your annual physical done. Make a list of questions and go into your appointment knowing that you are worth the preventative check. We want to make sure you are healthy and that you will live a long and happy life. These visits are designed to detect potential health concerns early, often before symptoms develop. The earlier a condition is identified, the more treatment options are typically available and the

better the chances of preventing future complications. 


Remember that no two patients are exactly alike. Your age, family history, medical conditions, and personal risk factors all play an important role in determining which screenings and tests are right for you. That's why it's so important to have an open conversation with your healthcare provider and make sure they have a complete picture of your health history. At the end of the day, the goal of an annual physical isn't simply to find problems—it's to help prevent them. Investing a small amount of time each year can make a lasting difference in your long-term health and well-being. 


Sources: 



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