A common annual physical exam at office or urgent care facility in U.S. includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Doctor visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$179 |
Provider fee to draw blood sample
From a vein with a needle
Standard
|
1 |
$15 |
Imaging |
Provider fee for routine ekg with interpretation/report
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$50 |
Lab |
Lab fee for test to count all blood cells, just red blood cells, or to find the concentration of hemoglobin
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$30 |
Lab fee for comprehensive metabolic panel
Comprehensive
Standard
|
1 |
$66 |
Lab fee for bundle of 3 or more lipid (cholesterol) tests
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$35 |
Lab fee for urine test
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$22 |
Total average cash price |
|
Your annual physical exam may take anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour to complete. It will follow a fairly routine procedure.
- Nursing staff will ask you questions about your current health status, or any changes to your lifestyle, such as increased alcohol consumption or stressful life changes (moving, marriage, etc.). They’ll also make sure your medical records are up-to-date with your current medications, discovered allergies, and recent surgeries.
- The nurse will also perform basic vitals tests, such as checking your blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, and heart rate.
- Then your provider will conduct a visual exam. Your practitioner will look in your eyes, ears, mouth, and nose to see if they detect any issues.
- Then comes the physical exam. The provider will apply gentle pressure (called palpating) to your abdomen, neck, arms, and legs to check for problems. They may also test your motor functions and reflexes.
There may be more detailed tests involved if your family has a history of certain diseases, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or heart disease.
Annual wellness exams serve a couple of different purposes, almost all of them surrounding preventative care.
These exams help your medical practitioners keep consistent records of your overall well-being, as well as monitor chronic conditions and medications. Your doctor may also address everyday habits that negatively affect your health and help you adjust them accordingly.
Regular physical exams also enable your doctor to catch any unusual or concerning signs as early as possible, and allow you to get treatment as soon as possible. This is especially important as you age.
Some blood tests may be necessary during your annual physical, especially if you are at particular risk for specific conditions and diseases. These tests might include a metabolic panel, a comprehensive blood count, diabetes or thyroid screening, or a lipid panel. These tests monitor for anemia, kidney and liver function, and cholesterol levels.
Be sure to check with your doctor ahead of your appointment for any rules regarding food and drink before these blood tests to ensure you’re getting the most accurate results possible.
Your annual physical exam is going to be more thorough and take longer than a comprehensive wellness visit. Wellness visits typically only include a visual examination and the updating of your medical history.
Comprehensive wellness visits are covered by most insurance plans, while annual physical exams are not always covered. Contact your insurance company before you go to your appointment to confirm your benefits.
No, you do not need to get a comprehensive physical every year. Though wellness visits should be performed every year, a comprehensive physical doesn’t need to happen that often. If you are generally healthy, having these exams every three to five years is recommended.
Yearly comprehensive physicals might be called for if you are at high risk for a particular disease or condition such as cancer or heart disease, or if you participate in sports.
Most people will get annual exams throughout their childhood, but these are less intensive than adult exams. At around age 18, you should get your first comprehensive physical exam.
This is the same for everyone, regardless of gender, though there are a couple of gender-specific tests your doctor may prescribe. Women specifically should start having annual gynecological physicals at between 13 and 15 years old. However, a pelvic exam is not necessary until the age of 21, unless there are specific gynecological concerns. Men should start having regular prostate exams at about 50 unless otherwise recommended by their doctor.
About the annual physical exam Average Cash Prices
This procedure is most commonly performed at urgent care.
Urgent Care/Office
Seeking medical care at a doctor's office or an urgent care facility is almost always more affordable
than going to a hospital for treatment, but you may not be able to receive the full-range of care and
support services available at a hospital, such as advanced imaging services and more extensive surgical
procedures. Procedures may not be performed at your doctor's office or at urgent care, so you need to
call the office first to confirm treatment options and cost.
