Most people show up to a yearly physical with nothing prepared and leave wishing they had asked about the thing that has been bothering them for months. It is a short visit. A little preparation changes how much you get out of it.
Here is what an annual wellness exam usually covers, what to bring, and the questions worth asking. Print it, screenshot it, or bring it up on your phone in the waiting room.
What an annual wellness exam actually is
It is a scheduled visit focused on prevention rather than on a specific complaint. Your provider reviews your history, checks your vitals, updates your medication list, orders the screenings that are due for your age and risk factors, and catches up your vaccines.
It is not the same as a sick visit, and it is not the same as a work or school physical, though many clinics can handle those at the same appointment if you ask when you book.
Before your visit: the bring list
A list of your medications
Include vitamins, supplements, and anything you take occasionally. Photos of the bottles work fine.
Your family health history
Parents, siblings, grandparents. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke matter most, along with the age each person was diagnosed.
Records from other providers
Any provider you saw this year: urgent care visits, specialists, emergency room trips.
Your top three concerns, written down
Providers reliably run out of time. Say the most important one first, not last.
Dates of past screenings
When was your last blood pressure check, cholesterol panel, Pap test, colonoscopy, or HIV test?
Your insurance card if you have one
If you do not, that is fine. DUG does not require insurance.
What usually happens during the visit
Vitals
Height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, and often temperature and oxygen level. Blood pressure is the one that matters most and the one people most often skip for years. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for high blood pressure in all adults 18 and older.
History and lifestyle review
Your provider will ask about sleep, alcohol, tobacco, other substances, physical activity, stress, and sexual health. These are not judgment questions. Several of them exist because national guidelines specifically recommend asking. The USPSTF recommends screening adults 18 and older for unhealthy alcohol use and for unhealthy drug use, and recommends that clinicians ask all adults about tobacco use and offer help quitting.
Physical exam
Heart, lungs, abdomen, skin, lymph nodes, and a neurological check. What else gets examined depends on your age, your history, and what you bring up.
Mental health check
The USPSTF recommends screening adults for depression, and screening adults 64 and younger for anxiety disorders. This is usually a short questionnaire. Answer it honestly. It is the fastest route to actual help.
Screenings your provider may order
Which ones apply depends on your age, sex, history, and risk factors. Our preventive health screenings by age guide breaks this down decade by decade. The short version:
- Blood pressure. All adults 18 and older.
- Cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Usually starting in your 20s to 40s depending on risk factors.
- Diabetes. The USPSTF recommends screening adults aged 35 to 70 who have overweight or obesity.
- HIV. The USPSTF recommends screening everyone aged 15 to 65 at least once. We offer confidential HIV and STD testing at every clinic.
- Hepatitis C. Recommended once for adults aged 18 to 79.
- Cervical cancer. Recommended for women aged 21 to 65, at intervals that depend on the test used.
- Breast cancer. The USPSTF recommends mammography every two years for women aged 40 to 74.
- Colorectal cancer. Recommended for all adults aged 45 to 75.
- Lung cancer. Annual low-dose CT for adults aged 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.
Vaccines to ask about
The CDC adult immunization schedule is the authoritative list. Bring it up at your annual visit rather than trying to remember later. The ones that come up most often for adults:
If it has been years since your last checkup
A lot of people avoid booking because they expect to be told off. That is not what a good wellness visit looks like. Your provider is trying to figure out where you are now, not to audit the last decade.
A few things make the first visit back easier:
Say up front how long it has been
It changes what your provider prioritizes, and it saves you both time.
Do not try to fix everything in one visit
Pick the two or three things that matter most and schedule the rest.
Expect more lab work than usual
With no recent baseline, your provider has nothing to compare against. The first round is usually the biggest.
Bring someone if it helps
A partner, friend, or family member can take notes and remind you of the question you meant to ask.
If you need an interpreter, say so when you book rather than when you arrive. Our South Florida clinics have bilingual staff.
Questions worth asking your provider
- Based on my age and history, which screenings am I actually due for this year?
- What do my numbers mean, and are any of them trending the wrong way?
- Are all of my medications still necessary at these doses?
- Which vaccines am I behind on?
- What is the one change that would make the biggest difference to my health?
- When should I come back, and what would make me come back sooner?
After the visit
Two things get dropped constantly. First, lab results. If you have not heard back within two weeks, call. No news is not always good news. Second, the follow-up appointment. Book it before you leave the building if you can.
Write down what changed: new medications, new diagnoses, screenings that are now scheduled. Next year’s visit starts with this year’s notes.
If a result comes back abnormal, that is common and usually not an emergency. Many abnormal results are borderline, get repeated, and come back normal the second time. Ask your provider three questions: what does this number mean, does it need to be repeated, and what would make me call you sooner?
The one-page version
If you remember nothing else from this article, remember these five:
- Book it. A visit you keep meaning to schedule is worth nothing.
- Write down three concerns before you go, and lead with the most important one.
- Ask which screenings you are due for, based on your age and history rather than on a generic list.
- Catch up on vaccines at the same visit so you do not need a second trip.
- Chase your lab results and book the follow-up before you leave.
What if you do not have insurance?
Most health plans cover preventive services graded A or B by the USPSTF at no cost to you, as HealthCare.gov explains. Without insurance, you still have options. Our guide to affordable primary care in Florida without insurance covers sliding-scale health centers, free clinics, and what DUG charges.
DUG provides annual wellness exams at all seven Florida clinics with no insurance required. See our Women’s Healthcare and Men’s Healthcare pages for sex-specific services, or find the clinic nearest you.
Frequently asked questions
Vitals, a health and lifestyle history, a physical exam, a mental health check, age-appropriate screenings, lab work when indicated, vaccine updates, and a plan for the year ahead.
Once a year is a reasonable default, and it is what most people can remember. If you have a chronic condition, you will likely need more frequent visits. Screening intervals themselves vary. Some are once in a lifetime, some are every year, some are every three to five years.
Only if lab work requires it. Ask when you book. If fasting is needed, schedule the earliest appointment of the day.
Not automatically, but it is usually far less expensive than people expect. Community health centers use income-based sliding fee scales, and DUG posts its pricing on the pricing page.
Usually yes. Tell the scheduler when you book so enough time is set aside.
Book your annual wellness exam
Seven Florida clinics plus statewide telehealth. No insurance required, and you will know what a visit costs before you are seen.
Medical disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a licensed clinician for personal health concerns.
References
External links are limited to government health sources and open in a new tab.
- A and B Recommendations. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
- Hypertension in Adults: Screening. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
- Recommended Vaccinations for Adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Preventive Care Benefits for Adults. HealthCare.gov, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- Get Health Care. Health Resources and Services Administration.