Preventive Screenings to Discuss With Your Doctor After 65
Screenings can find health issues early, when they may be easier to manage. This overview explains common screenings and how to plan the conversation with your doctor.
The short version
- Screening recommendations depend on your age, health history and personal preferences.
- Medicare covers a yearly wellness visit and many preventive services.
- Bring a list of medications, family history and questions to your appointment.
In this guide
Preventive screenings are tests that look for health conditions before you notice symptoms. Finding certain issues early can make them easier to manage. But not every test is right for every person, and recommendations change with age and health history. The best approach is a conversation with your doctor about what makes sense for you.
Start with your yearly wellness visit
If you have Medicare Part B, you can get a one-time "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit within the first 12 months of coverage, then a yearly "Annual Wellness Visit." These visits focus on prevention and planning. They typically include a review of your medical and family history, a list of your current providers and prescriptions, measurements such as height, weight and blood pressure, and a personalized prevention plan.
Generally, you pay nothing for these visits if your doctor accepts assignment. However, if your doctor performs additional tests or services during the same visit that are not covered as preventive care, you may owe coinsurance.
Screenings commonly discussed after 65
The list below is general information. Your doctor will tailor recommendations to you.
- Blood pressure: checked at most visits.
- Cholesterol and other cardiovascular screening: blood tests that look at heart-related risk factors.
- Colorectal cancer screening: several test options exist, from stool-based tests to colonoscopy. Recommendations depend on age and history.
- Breast cancer screening (mammograms): generally discussed for women into their 70s, with decisions after that made individually.
- Bone density testing: to check for thinning bones, commonly recommended for women 65 and older and for others with risk factors.
- Diabetes screening: blood tests for people with certain risk factors.
- Lung cancer screening: for some adults with a significant history of smoking.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: a one-time ultrasound for some men with a history of smoking.
- Depression screening: a short questionnaire about mood.
- Hearing and vision checks: to keep track of changes over time.
- Cognitive assessment: a brief check that may be included in a wellness visit.
Why recommendations differ
Screening involves trade-offs. A test may find something early, but it can also lead to follow-up tests or treatments that carry their own risks. For older adults, factors like overall health, other conditions and personal priorities all play a role. It is reasonable to ask your doctor, "What are the benefits and downsides of this test for someone like me?"
How to prepare for the conversation
- Bring a full medication list, including vitamins and supplements, or bring the bottles themselves.
- Update your family history, noting any relatives with heart disease, cancer, diabetes or other conditions, and their ages when diagnosed.
- Know your past results. Note when you last had each screening if you can.
- Write down your questions ahead of time so you do not forget them.
- Bring a trusted friend or family member if you would like help remembering what was discussed.
Questions to ask
- Which screenings do you recommend for me this year, and why?
- Which ones can I stop, and when?
- How should I prepare for each test?
- When and how will I get the results?
- What happens if a result is abnormal?
Keep your own record
Maintain a simple chart listing each screening, the date and the result. It makes future appointments easier and is useful if you change doctors or need care while traveling.
