5 Doctors You Need To See Annually (And How To Make It As Painless As Possible)

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Gone are the days of your parents scheduling all of your doctor appointments for you and forcing you into the car when those dreaded days finally arrived. It’s now entirely up to you — which doctors you pick in your area, when you set those appointments alongside your work schedule, actually attending those appointments, paying for them and keeping up the routine year after year. We know, it sounds daunting, but it’s actually pretty simple. Here are the five doctors you need to make sure you visit annually and what to expect with each appointment.

1. Your Primary Care Doctor

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Why You Should Go

It’s easy to feel inclined to skip this one if you never feel sick, but it’s important to visit your primary care doctor every 12 months for an annual physical. This routine check-up covers a lot of ground when it comes to your physical health. Your doctor uses the exam to track any year-over-year changes in your weight, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, heart function, respiratory function, preexisting medical conditions and more. This appointment is also when you receive any vaccination updates you may need. One of the biggest benefits of an annual physical is the preventative care it provides; if you and your doctor catch an issue when it’s in an early stage of development, you’re less likely to end up with a major problem and you’ll save a ton of money when it comes to treating that problem.

How Much It Costs

The price of this appointment depends on your health insurance coverage. Some plans provide annual physicals at no cost to you while others could charge you a copay of $50 or more for the exam. Usually, any labwork or routine scans required in the appointment are also covered by insurance, but to be sure, review your specific policy to know what fees to anticipate when you walk in the door.

Managing Medical Conditions

If you have preexisting medical conditions — anything from asthma to diabetes — it’s even more important that you stay on track with this annual appointment so you and your physician can keep an eye on your symptoms, progress and more. Often times, if a prescription is required to treat your illness, your doctor’s office will refuse to continue refilling your medications at the 12-month mark until you come in for your check-up, so be mindful of that cut-off date.

What Documents You Need

If you’re going in for an annual physical as a new patient with your selected doctor, you’ll need personal identification like a driver’s license or passport and your medical insurance card. From there, the office staff will ask you to fill out paperwork regarding your medical history, privacy preferences, preferred payment method and more. Most practices accept either cash or credit card for any fees you may be charged for the appointment.

2. Your Dentist

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Why You Should Go

Even if you take amazing care of your teeth, you still need to see a dentist regularly because they have the tools to check for things that you can’t see or feel like cavities, gum disease and even oral cancer. During your annual dentist appointments, the hygienist takes X-rays of your teeth and thoroughly cleans and polishes them, all while examining your gums and tongue for any signs of inflammation or disease. It’s actually ideal to see your dentist for a cleaning every six months, but if you’re considering procrastinating, definitely don’t extend past that year mark. It’s all about preventative care, folks.

How Much It Costs

The price of this appointment depends on your health insurance coverage and what services you need. Some plans provide twice-annual dental cleanings at no cost to you while others could charge a copay. Usually, any mandatory X-rays or other routine components of the check-up are also covered by insurance. Adult fluoride treatments are often offered but sometimes not covered because they’re considered optional. It’s always best to review your specific policy to know what to expect when you arrive for your appointment.

Managing Medical Conditions

Sticking to a healthy dental routine can safeguard against a lot of issues like tooth decay, gingivitis and more, but the occasional cavity could sneak past you, requiring a follow-up filling appointment. (The payment rates for these appointments vary dramatically based on how much work you need done and what your insurance covers.) You will likely also need to get your wisdom teeth removed at some point in your life (if you haven’t done so already), in which case your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon for the procedure. Any orthodontic work like braces requires frequent return trips to the dentist to make sure everything is aligning as it should, so if you’re in the middle of a corrective treatment, pay special attention to that calendar.

What Documents You Need

If you’re going in for a dental cleaning as a new patient with your selected dentist, you’ll need personal identification like a driver’s license or passport and your dental insurance card. From there, the office staff will ask you to fill out paperwork regarding your dental and medical history, privacy preferences, preferred payment method and more. Most practices accept either cash or credit card for any fees you may be charged for the appointment.

3. Your Optometrist

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Why You Should Go

This appointment is one of the most frequently skipped, especially for those who have 20/20 vision, but don’t disregard it. A complete eye exam is the best preventative measure against problems like developed glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes, chronic dry eye and more. That’s right — it’s not just about how well you see, but rather about how well every component of your eye is functioning.

How Much It Costs

The price of this appointment depends on your health insurance coverage. Some plans provide annual eye exams at no cost to you while others could charge you a copay for the exam. And if you end up needing to purchase corrective lenses, your insurance might cover a fraction of that cost, leaving you responsible for the rest. Before walking into the doctor’s office, review your specific policy to know what fees to anticipate.

Managing Medical Conditions

If you’re someone who doesn’t have 20/20 vision and, therefore, wears corrective lenses like glasses or contacts, it’s even more important to attend this appointment every 12 months. That way, you and your doctor can keep track of any progression, for better or worse, that occurs with your vision. You can keep your prescription up to date, meaning you’ll not only be able to see more clearly, but also take the additional strain off your eyes that comes with wearing the incorrect prescription. It’s also the only way to identify when your eyes have stopped growing, which is when you can become eligible for vision correction procedures you may be considering.

What Documents You Need

If you’re going in for an annual eye exam as a new patient with your selected optometrist, you’ll need personal identification like a driver’s license or passport and your vision insurance card (or medical insurance card if your vision benefits are part of that policy). From there, the office staff will ask you to fill out paperwork regarding your medical history, privacy preferences, preferred payment method and more. Most practices accept either cash or credit card for any fees you may be charged for the appointment.

4. Your Dermatologist

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Why You Should Go

Dermatologist visits are another frequently-skipped appointment, but for the sake of your skin health, make this check-up a priority. Annual skin screenings are essential for the early identification (and effective treatment) of skin cancer. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer and the most common cancer diagnosis in young women, but when it’s caught early, patients have a 98 percent (or greater) survival rate. So even if you regularly scan your body in the mirror, you still need a professional eye to check questionable spots — especially if they’re in hard-to-see places like on your back.

How Much It Costs

When it comes to insurance, a dermatologist is considered a specialty doctor, so you will likely have to pay a higher copay for this appointment than you do at your primary care doctor’s office or dentist’s office. Unless you’re diagnosed with a condition for which you need to receive a prescription, this copay should be the only cost you incur. So check with your medical insurance provider about your specialty doctor appointment copay rates before arriving for your exam.

Managing Medical Conditions

If you have very few moles on your skin and no family history of skin cancer, this annual screening will be a total breeze, lasting no more than 10 minutes. If you have more spots worth an assessment from the doctor, it will take longer, but it won’t be painful (just a little uncomfortable because you do have to be nude for the doctor to see what he or she needs to see). If you already manage an existing skin condition like eczema or rosacea, your dermatologist will check in with you regarding your symptoms and how your treatment plan is going thus far.

What Documents You Need

If you’re going in for an annual skin screening as a new patient with your selected dermatologist, you’ll need personal identification like a driver’s license or passport and your medical insurance card. From there, the office staff will ask you to fill out paperwork regarding your medical history, privacy preferences, preferred payment method and more. Most practices accept either cash or credit card for any fees you may be charged for the appointment.

5. Your Gynecologist

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Why You Should Go

If you want to be on top of your preventative health care game, make a point to schedule a general gynecological exam once every year. We know, it’s your least favorite of them all (and with good reason), but that doesn’t make it any less important. Pelvic exams are key to protecting your reproductive health, informing you of any problems before they get too serious, as well as detecting cancer as early as possible. They’re also a critical component of sexual health for both you and your partner(s), revealing symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases and infections so you can then seek proper treatment for them.

How Much It Costs

Some insurance policies treat a gynecologist as a specialty doctor, in which case you’ll pay a higher copay for this appointment. However, you can sometimes receive a pelvic exam as part of your annual physical if your primary care doctor also maintains credentials in gynecology. So before you book this appointment separately, ask your general physician if they perform this type of check-up as well because if they do, you’re looking at just one low copay instead of two.

Managing Medical Conditions

Unless you’re walking into this appointment experiencing some discomfort, the exam is incredibly straightforward. But in the case that you’re treating an STI or STD, your gynecologist will assess your symptoms and discuss your progress with you in relation to the medications they may have previously prescribed. Two other common conditions that come up in these appointments are yeast infections and urinary tract infections, both of which can usually be treated easily and quickly with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.

What Documents You Need

If you’re going in for an annual skin screening as a new patient with your selected dermatologist, you’ll need personal identification like a driver’s license or passport and your medical insurance card. From there, the office staff will ask you to fill out paperwork regarding your medical history, privacy preferences, preferred payment method and more. Most practices accept either cash or credit card for any fees you may be charged for the appointment.

All of these appointments are critical when it comes to preventative health care, which means that if you prioritize them today, you’re much less likely to suffer from painful (and expensive) illnesses down the line. So why wait? Cross them all off the list early in the year and then get on with living your best life.

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