You no doubt have heard of a physical examination. These are sometimes referred to as an annual physical, suggesting they should be done annually. I’ve written about Obamacare’s free annual wellness visits, explaining they are not the same as an annual physical. Indeed, I have heard from people who discovered that the annual wellness exam does not even cover complete blood counts (CBC) and other bloodwork that is desirable to have annually.
The website Health Policy News wrote about the benefits of an Executive Check-Up, which is a supercharged physical examination. The purpose is early detection, saying:
Executive check-ups are crucial for early disease detection. These health evaluations involve a series of advanced diagnostic tests and screenings aimed at identifying potential health problems at an early stage. By focusing on early detection, executive check-ups enable timely interventions and effective management of conditions, helping individuals maintain their health.
Early detection of diseases is essential for effective treatment and better health outcomes. By identifying health issues at an initial stage, interventions can be more successful, and the progression of diseases can be slowed or even prevented. Executive check-ups play a vital role in this process by incorporating advanced diagnostic tests and screenings tailored to an individual’s health profile.
When people think of early detection they often think of diseases like cancer. Chronic conditions, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes all can benefit from early detection as well. Not mentioned in the article but obesity is also something that benefits from early intervention.
According to Health Policy News, there are six (6) key components of an executive check-up. (1) The first of these is a comprehensive medical history and physician examination. This includes identifying pre-existing conditions, detecting new symptoms, understanding lifestyle and risk factors, family medical history, establishing baselines (i.e., establishing where you are in terms of blood chemistry and other metrics) and developing a customized health & wellness plan. Item No. 1 is possibly something your doctor can do during a physical exam but there is a strong likelihood that information like family history falls through the cracks. Unless you are paying for the additional attention, you are unlikely to get it.
The second item of an executive check-up is (2) advanced diagnostic testing. These include blood tests (I get them annually), urine tests (ditto), periodic CT scans, MRI scans and other types of screenings. A few years ago, I got a full body CT scan that looked at things like blockages in my heart, tumors in my body. It was something like $1,200 at the time. I get a $150 to $175 wellness blood test every year in June to see if anything about my health has changed. The only thing that ever comes up is my cholesterol is about 240 and my LDL is the culprit.
Item No. (3) Cancer Screenings. Some of these are recommended at specific times in specific intervals, the primary tests include screening for breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer and skin cancer. Nowadays there are comprehensive tests on the market that can look for DNA and biomarkers for numerous cancers in one blood test. This year I got a test called OneTest for Cancer that looks for evidence of several dozen cancers. It cost around $350.
Item No, (4) Cardiovascular Assessments. These include stress tests, echocardiograms, blood pressure and cholesterol screening, and coronary calcium scan are some to consider. Cardiovascular assessments are often done on adults in their 50s and 60s.
Item No. (5) Lifestyle and Nutritional Counseling. This is probably a good idea at any age. Do not wait until you get up in years to consider it. This involves behavioral counseling, managing chronic conditions, exercise & physical activity. If started early, change can lead to long-term health benefits.
Item (6) Mental Health and Cognitive Assessments. This includes things like mental health assessments, stress management strategies and customized mental health support.
Now for the million-dollar question: how much do you think all the above will cost? From what I’ve found, it will run $5,000 to $10,000 depending on where it is done. Also, notice that not a single disease has been treated at this point. An executive check-up is not beneficial every year but could be perhaps once every few years. By the way, an annual physical exam is a waste of money in younger, asymptomatic people.
It is easy to see how an executive check-up could be beneficial for people approaching middle age, do not expect someone else to dip into their wallet to pay for it. Only a small fraction of this is covered by insurance, and only those services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce. Preventive care is not money-saving in most cases, nor is it actual medical care. Notice that I have paid for numerous tests but nothing came of them. Sometimes preventive medical services are done for peace of mind. However, prevention is the type of medical service more people would do if they are empowered patients.
Health Policy News: How Can an Executive Check-Up Help in Early Disease Detection