Fewer Than 6 In 10 Older Adults Get Annual Checkups, Despite Proven Benefits

A new push from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield highlights a troubling gap in preventive care among older adults—and the high stakes that come with ignoring it.

According to Excellus, only about 59% of their members aged 65 and older complete an annual care visit, a crucial step in identifying and managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cognitive decline. The data, released this week, is part of a broader campaign reminding older adults that preventive care isn’t optional — it’s essential.

Why this matters

“Preventive screenings help people in their 60s and 70s live healthier lives,” said Dr. Kathleen Robischon, VP of medical affairs and clinical services at Excellus. “We know tests can feel intimidating and life gets busy, but taking this step truly improves quality of life.”

The insurer is pointing to guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and its own data, which emphasize routine wellness visits as the foundation for healthy aging. These visits allow primary care providers to screen for everything from high blood pressure and cancer to fall risk and depression—before those issues become serious.

What to expect from an annual care visit

Annual visits can include:

• Blood pressure checks (yearly)
• Cholesterol screenings (every 4–6 years, or more if at risk)
• Colorectal cancer screenings (starting at age 45)
• Mammograms (every 1–2 years for women)
• Bone density testing (for women 65+ or others at risk)
• Diabetes testing (annually if overweight or at risk)

Other topics might include mental health, medication safety, fall prevention, and vaccines, including flu, shingles, pneumonia, and COVID-19.

Medicare covers it but many don’t take advantage

For those on Medicare, the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is completely covered. Unlike a traditional physical, the AWV is focused on planning and prevention—reviewing your health history, updating medications, discussing advance care directives, and assessing risks related to falls or cognitive health.

Patients are encouraged to bring a list of medications and be ready to talk through any new or ongoing concerns. Providers can also help identify cost-saving programs, like New York’s EPIC program, which helps with prescription costs.

Take control of your future health

Preventive care may not feel urgent—but skipping it can lead to delayed diagnoses, higher healthcare costs, and lower quality of life down the road. Excellus is urging anyone over 65 to schedule their annual visit and talk to their provider about what screenings and support they might need.

“Staying healthy doesn’t start in the hospital—it starts in your doctor’s office, before anything goes wrong,” Robischon said.

To learn more about preventive checklists and Medicare-covered wellness visits, visit:
https://medicare.excellusbcbs.com/documents/d/global/exc-inp-adult-over-65-plus-preventive-health-checklist

Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad).

The post Fewer than 6 in 10 older adults get annual checkups, despite proven benefits appeared first on Fingerlakes1.com.