October is known widespread as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the campaign’s iconic bright pink hue is a vivid reminder for people to get their mammogram to screen for breast cancer. A mammogram is just one example of the preventive screenings that can help you monitor for potential chronic diseases. Many health problems are preventable, and preventive screenings can help catch potential health concerns early. This is especially important depending on your family health history.
In addition to searching for signs of cancer, preventive screenings can also detect early stages of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, asthma and other long-term health conditions. Early detection can also lower your health care spending over the course of your life. Examples of preventive services include immunizations, colonoscopies, pap smears, bone density screenings and blood sampling, among many more. Depending on your age, medical history, gender and other factors, most patients can receive these screenings at little to no cost through their health insurance.
For businesses, it’s important for employers to encourage employees to take advantage of preventive care options offered through their health insurance plans. Preventive care can help keep down high-cost claims and loss of productivity for your organization. Promotion for preventive screenings within a workplace can save an exorbitant amount of money for an organization as it helps minimize absenteeism, health care costs, workers’ compensation and disability management claims costs.
There are a range of ways to promote preventive care among your employees and motivate them to meet with their provider. You can inform and encourage your team to receive screenings through a range of communication efforts, such as sharing information on internal newsletters and intranet portals, leading discussions at staff meetings, offering screenings at the office, and launching wellness and incentive programs.
Preventive screenings are like oil changes for a car. It should be done regularly to lower long-term complications and problems. It’s the first step for people to gain control of their own health, maintain a positive lifestyle and ultimately save money. To find out what preventive services and screenings are offered through your employee-sponsored health insurance plan, contact your insurance career or your CanopyNation representative. Our team is ready to provide insight on what services are included in your coverage and where to find a health care provider within your network.