Don’t hide from healthy

Preventive care isn’t just about avoiding illness. It’s about investing in a stronger, healthier future for yourself, your family and your community. Best of all, it costs you nothing.¹

Screenings save lives

Preventive care usually includes a physical exam, blood pressure check, cholesterol and blood sugar tests, age- and gender-based cancer screenings (e.g., Pap tests, mammograms, colonoscopies), and immunizations. Your provider may also ask about your mental health, lifestyle habits and family history. These visits are one of the best ways to stay ahead of potential health problems — or even prevent them altogether. Consider this:

• Cancer cases are rising — especially among women under 50. However, so are survival rates, thanks in part to early detection.²
• A routine mammogram can spot breast cancer before you notice any symptoms. When it’s caught early, the survival rate is about 99%.³
• A colonoscopy doesn’t just find colon cancer early; it can help prevent it by finding and removing precancerous growths.⁴
• Vaccines help your immune system recognize and fight disease, reducing your risk of infection. Vaccines are not always 100% effective but reduce your chances of getting seriously ill if you are infected. They go through strict safety testing, and their benefits far outweigh the low risk of side effects.⁵

Staying on top of preventive care is one of the simplest ways to protect your long-term health. If you’re due for a visit — or not sure when to get checked — talk to your PCP about what’s right for you.

Preventive versus diagnostic — know how they’re covered

Preventive care includes routine checkups and screenings — like a mammogram or colonoscopy — to catch health issues early or prevent them altogether. These services are typically covered 100%.

Diagnostic care is used when you’re experiencing symptoms and your doctor needs to find out what’s wrong. The same tests may be used, but when done for diagnosis — like a mammogram for a breast lump or a colonoscopy for abdominal pain — diagnostic tests are covered according to your Blue & Gold HMO benefits and usually include a copay.

Small steps to make a big difference

1. If you haven’t already done so this year, schedule your annual preventive care visit with your primary care physician (PCP). It’s covered at 100%.¹
2. Review Health Net’s gender- and aged-based recommended preventive care screening guidelines.
3. Get up to speed on the CDC’s vaccine recommendations.

_{¹ Source: The National Library of Medicine
² Even when ordered by your provider, not all lab tests may be covered. If you have questions about coverage, call the Health Benefit Navigator team at (800) 539-4072, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific time or visit the Health Net member portal > Plan Details.
³ American Cancer Society, Jan. 16, 2025.
⁴ American Cancer Society, Jan. 16, 2025.
⁵ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed on July 18, 2025.}