Preventive vs. Preventative Care: Everything You Need To Know

Preventive care includes services that you get as part of your routine wellness exam. Most healthcare plans cover eligible preventive care services. Typical services include screenings and yearly checkups to make sure you are healthy and to also catch any health issues before they become more advanced. Preventive services are essential in maintaining your health and with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requiring private insurance plans to cover recommended preventive services, maintaining your health is more accessible.

If you have questions or need help choosing a healthcare plan that includes preventive health services, call our health experts at (855) 968-5736 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET You can also check out our free online quoting tool to learn more about potential Federal Marketplace rates.

Preventive vs Preventative Care: What Is The Difference?

Is there any difference between preventive care and preventative care? In the healthcare world preventive and preventative are interchangeable and have the same meaning. Individual and small-group healthcare plans under the ACA include preventive or preventative health services. According to K Health, the average doctor’s visit without insurance can cost anywhere from $150 to $450. With a comprehensive insurance plan, you can visit your doctors and get the preventive care you need to stay healthy.

Ten Essential Services Covered By The ACA

In 2014, the ACA dictated that new health insurance plans in the individual and small-group markets must cover a minimum set of services that the ACA states are “essential health benefits.” This requirement applies to plans sold on the state health insurance exchanges and individual and small group plans purchased outside of the exchange. The list of ten required services includes:

- Emergency services
- Ambulatory patient services
- Hospitalization
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision services.

The ACA outlined these essential services to ensure that everyone enrolled in an eligible plan can have access to the care they need, including necessary medical services. This ensures that people can access essential care without facing exorbitant costs.

Why Preventive Care Is Essential

Preventive or Preventative care is essential because it can help detect any disease, illness, or health issues and allow you to maintain your long-term health. By participating in preventive care, you are not only ensuring that you are maintaining your health, but you will also reduce the overall cost of your healthcare. With early detection of disease and illness, you can avoid the need for expensive treatments later.

By focusing on your long-term health through early detection and living a healthy lifestyle, you can focus on the things that matter in your life. You will also avoid the unexpected expenses of a treatment plan, should you need one due to unforseen illness.

Preventive Services

There are many types of preventive services available. These services range from vaccinations to yearly checkups and screenings. Some of the more popular preventive services include:

- Blood pressure screening
- Vaccinations
- Yearly checkups
- Diet counseling
- Cholesterol screening
- Tobacco use screening
- Breast cancer screening
- Blood test

These are just a few different types of preventive care services available. Some services are exclusively available to women and children. All Marketplace health plans cover these services without charging a copayment or coinsurance. A full comprehensive list of all preventive services can be found on the Healthcare.gov website.

According to GoodRX, a breast cancer screening mammogram can range from slightly less than $200 to over $300. More advanced screenings will most likely cost more. According to Healthline, if you wanted to schedule an appointment for diet counseling without insurance, the cost on average would be more than $100. The cost of a blood test without insurance can range from anywhere between $29 and $99 per test according to GoodRX.

Are you interested in finding a healthcare plan that provides additional coverage and easier access to services? Call our health experts at (855) 968-5736 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET You can also check out our free online quoting tool to learn more about potential Federal Marketplace rates.

Preventive Dental And Vision Care

Preventive care steps can also be taken for dental and vision. Preventive dentistry services include regular exams every six months, teeth cleanings, and x-rays. Preventive vision care includes regular eye exams, during which a doctor will check for vision problems or disease. Trips to get your eyes and teeth examined can be expensive without insurance.

What does dental insurance cover? Your monthly premium will help cover preventive, basic restorative, and advanced restorative care costs.

Preventive care includes routine cleanings, fluoride treatments, and oral evaluations. Basic restorative care encompasses root canals and fillings. Advanced restorative care includes crowns, dental bridges, and dentures.

Dental and Vision Care Costs Without Insurance

According to CareCredit, the average cost of a dental cleaning is about $203. This does not account for any additional treatments or care that may be needed such as fillings or gum disease treatment. According to CNET, a routine eye exam could cost over $100. Similar to a routine dental exam, the eye exam cost does not include additional costs for treatments needed or glasses.

Under the ACA, insurance companies must offer dental and vision benefits for children 18 and under. While vision and dental are not listed as essential health benefits under the ACA, you can enroll in dental and vision coverage through the Marketplace during open enrollment. If you want the additional coverage, you will typically pay a fee on top of your health coverage premiums. Call us at (855) 968-5736 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET and we can help you navigate the ACA Marketplace to find the best dental and vision plans for you and your family.

Conclusion

Millions of Americans have access to preventive health care services, yet they don’t take advantage of the benefits. With the ACA making preventive care more accessible, you should schedule regular checkups with your doctor to ensure you can maintain your health and avoid unexpected costs later in life. These preventive services are available at no cost through all Marketplace plans due to the ACA. If you are currently uninsured and looking for coverage, many plans provide access to preventive care.

Have questions about which preventive health services you should take advantage of? Interested in finding a healthcare plan that includes preventive health services? Give our health experts a call at (855) 968-5736 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. You can also check out our free online quoting tool to learn more about potential Federal Marketplace rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Preventive vs Preventative Care: Is There A Difference?

There is no difference between preventive and preventative care. These words are synonyms and are interchangeable in the healthcare world.

Why Is It Important To Participate In Preventive Or Preventative Healthcare Services?

Early detection allows you to begin treatments in order to combat any illness and prevent your condition from worsening. This will also save you money, as you can avoid any expensive treatments later.

Which Preventive Or Preventative Services Should I Take Advantage Of?

Regular check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings are some of the most popular preventative services. We recommend checking with your doctor to find out if there are any additional measures you should take.