Hey, guys: Your future self will thank you for getting a check up

Surveys show that men shy away from preventive care or just don’t think about it. Ask yourself: When’s the last time I had a check-up?

That’s what we thought. You’re not alone. A 2024 Cleveland Clinic survey found that more than half of men across the U.S. say they avoid the doctor because they feel healthy, while another study found 79% of men wait for severe symptoms before seeing a doctor.

Feeling fine today and hoping for the best tomorrow could cost you. And in Maine, it contributes to shorter lifespans for men, who die on average six years before women, at just 74.9 years. Heart disease, for instance, has a higher death rate for men in Maine than the U.S. average. Men often overlook their mental health, too—men in Maine are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.  

The bottom line: Men simply don’t go to the doctor and it’s hurting them. 

Take charge of your health

Early screenings and routine check-ups give you a way to take action to ensure you’re as healthy as you can be. They make it easier to treat conditions like high blood pressure or cholesterol or help to prevent diabetes and heart disease.  

Your health plan covers most preventive services when you use an in-network provider. These include screenings, checkups and healthcare counseling, many at no cost to you. You won’t be judged or lectured—your visit will focus on keeping you healthy, not finding a problem. If you do need a follow-up, you can talk about the next steps with your doctor. 

If you’re nervous, here’s what to expect:

• Review of your medical and family history
• A full physical exam
• Blood pressure, heart rate, respiration checks
• Personalized health advice
• Lab work, if needed
• Immunizations, like a shingles and flu vaccine ( and when was your last tetanus booster?)

You can learn more from our primer on preventive care and you can review a full list of preventive services at healthcare.gov.  

Finding primary care or virtual support 

Community Health Options Members who don’t have a primary care provider can choose one in their Member portal. But surveys show that one reason men skip care is that they simply don’t want to go to a doctor’s office. In that case, virtual primary care could be the answer for you. You’ll meet online with a provider who will send you to any in-person follow-up tests you need.  

Community Health Options partners with Firefly Health to provide virtual primary care to Members 18 and over, and virtual care is expanding across Maine, with some providers offering virtual primary care as well.  Firefly also offers behavioral health support for those who need someone to talk to. 

Specific plan benefits vary, so please check your plan’s schedule of benefits for details. Have a question about Community Health Options or your benefits? Call our Maine-based Member Services team at (855) 624-6463 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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