Watching your health can be complicated. With the Individual Health Insurance Mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act kicking in you will have to think through your options. If you already have insurance, or are signing up with the Health Insurance Marketplace, some preventive services will be covered with no copay. But what do you really need to do to watch your health and catch big health issues?
If you opt out of mandatory health insurance or are deciding to go for catastrophic, high-deductible or "consumer-driven" care which provides only minimal visits per year and carries high deductibles, here are some tests you should try to squeeze into your healthcare budget:
1. Blood pressure screening - Home blood pressure cuffs are readily available so you can track this yourself.
2. C-reactive protein test - This protein can indicate the level of inflammation in the body and has been recognized as a useful adjunct to traditional cardiovascular tests like cholesterol and blood pressure.
3. Colonoscopy - Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women so screenings beginning at age 50 are critical.
4. CYP450 test - This test can monitor the efficiency of your liver based on the availability of the right enzymes to process medications, allowing doctors to prescribe exactly the right dosage for your body.
5. Diabetes risk tests - With type 2 diabetes on the rise, a simple blood glucose test can tell you whether you may be at higher risk for diabetes.
6. Lipids panel - Still recognized as a key indicator of cardiovascular disease, newer lipid tests including the VAP (Vertical Auto Profile) test can provide more detailed information about the state of your cholesterol.
7. Pap smear - This test is recommended for all women who are 21 or over and/or sexually active.
8. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) - Establishing a baseline number for men is essential to long-term tracking of the health of their prostates and early warning for potential issues down the line.
9. Skin cancer exam - Skin cancer rates have been rising and you should be checked every year for unusual growths or changes to your skin.
10. Stress test - Used to determine the likelihood of coronary artery disease, this is especially recommended for those over age 50.
Of the tests listed above the ones that will be covered include blood pressure screening, colonoscopies, diabetes screening (only if you have high blood pressure), cholesterol screening and pap smears (HPV DNA test. This means if you want a baseline PSA test, a more informative cholesterol test or think you may be at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes, even if you don't have high blood pressure, you'll have to go shopping for the best price on your own. When you are on a budget, the last thing you need are price surprises. Choose a lab testing company with transparent prices on the front end so you know how your proactive care will fit into the budget.
These tests are available at independent lab testing facilities and do not require a doctor's order or prescription. With a Flexible Spending Account most of the costs can be covered using your pre-tax dollars. Do your research and make the most of your options.