Yearly exams are key to stopping health problems in their tracks — or catching issues early. Here are the four exams that you shouldn’t let fall through the cracks or put off scheduling.

1. Annual checkup

An annual checkup gives you time to talk with your primary care provider (PCP) about ways to stay healthy and injury-free. During this visit, you and your doctor will talk about and update your personalized prevention plan to help keep you healthy all year long.  

During an annual checkup, your PCP will review your medications and make sure you’re up to date on screenings such as colonoscopies or mammograms. Your PCP can also help you identify and plan for any vaccines you may need.

2. Eye exam

Yearly eye exams help make sure your vision is in good shape. Poor eyesight is a health hazard, putting you at risk for falls and other injuries. An eye doctor can update any prescription for glasses or contacts. They’ll also be on the lookout for eye issues like glaucoma (a condition that can cause blindness) or cataracts.

Regular eye exams are especially important if you have diabetes. That’s because diabetes raises your risk of eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts and glaucoma. 

You get one routine eye exam a year, but can see a medical eye doctor as needed.

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3. Dental checkup

Your chances of cavities, gum disease and tooth loss go up as you age. Visiting your dentist once a year can help stop these issues from happening.

Your Allina Health I Aetna Medicare Advantage plan covers preventive dental services such as routine dental exams, cleanings and dental X-rays. 

4. Hearing exam 

Straining to hear what friends and family members are saying? Loss of hearing can lead to falls, trouble focusing and feelings of isolation. It’s also a risk factor for dementia. Getting your ears checked every year is important for avoiding these problems. 

Check your coverage 

Your Allina Health | Aetna plan covers an annual wellness visit after a year of membership. It may also cover a routine physical, preventive dental exam, hearing exam and eye exam. To learn more about your coverage, go to AllinaHealthAetnaMedicare.com/Login to log in to your secure member website. Once you’re there/on the site:

1. Select “Plan Overview.”
2. Under “Medical,” select “What’s Covered.”
3. From here you can access your plan documents on the right-hand side of the screen. To learn about key exam coverage, view the “Medical Benefits Chart” in Chapter 4, Section 2 of your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) document. You can also find out if you need to see an in-network provider. Look for the chart sections labeled:

• Annual checkup (May be listed as “Annual Wellness Visit”) 
• Dental services (additional) 
• Hearing services
• Vision care

Need to find an in-network dental provider?

Visit AllinaHealthAetnaMedicare.com/FindProvider or call Member Services at 1-833-570-6671 (TTY: 711) between 8 AM and 8 PM, seven days a week.   

For language services, please call the number on your member ID card and request an operator. For other language services: Español | 中⽂ | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | Tagalog | Pусский | ةيبرعلا| | Kreyòl | Français | Polski | Português | Italiano | Deutsch | ⽇本語 | فارسی | Other languages… 

See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. 

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