My wife and I see our Family physician 2 times a year for "checkups". Long gone are the days of physical exams. These exams now are simply Blood pressure, oxygen, listening to lungs and heart with a stethoscope, looking in the ears and nose, answering a ton of stupid questions, and a blood draw for a few different panels. We both have Medicare and Supplemental Gap medical insurance. The ACA (obamacare) act took away paying for actual physical exam stuff, like chest xray, ECG, prostate check for men, etc. So we are left with what I consider much less of an actual physical exam.

I had a long talk yesterday with the Doc about this. Why is Medicare so interested in whether I can open a pill bottle, draw the hands on a clock, or how I feel about my life? Medicare is a government entity that could not care less about my well being. I don't want to give them any info, just Pay the Doctor for any health issues I might have incurred. After all, I pay them a tremendous amount for Medicare and the Supplement plan.

Rant over. Carry on with yer bad selves.

I get a physical each year from my own physician just because I think its important to do so then go through a really, really comprehensive physical, physical agility, Max VO2etc test at work. It's required to do well enough on it to stay on duty.

we have to get a yearly physical to get the premium rate on our insurance from work. that's fine, because our doctors did it anyway and it's free.

It doesn't cost us anything either, but what used to be a "yearly" physical exam has been reduced to some blood tests, a quick stethoscope listen and a medicare wellness questionaire.

The argument from the Doc is that those ECG's, xrays, etc. were not really neccessary. The only reason we have to see the Doc is to keep our medications current. And we don't take many medications, cholesterol for me and blood pressure for the Mrs.

That is a good thing to do in your line of work Mark.

I see my primary care physician twice a year for a complete check-up.

I'm turning 40 this year. Do I need to start doing regular checkups? Right now, I only go see a doctor if there is a need which is very VERY rarely (< 1 / year).

One thing that has been eye opening is just how good Max VO2 shows your overall health is. Its an excellent predictor of a lot of issues. Its also so easy to get it to increase.

Same here, I sign it at the front, copay, and tell them I need my scripts renewed and to tell the doc to copy all the answers from my last visit.

Interesting. So it is a complete physical exam? Maybe I just picked the wrong primary care facility.

Do you do this test under stress? They usually just check my O2 with that finger oximeter or whatever. It checks the oxygen content of the blood I guess. There is one that you have to blow into a vial thing that measures flow rate.

Did you follow me this week for my check up?

When the Nurse asked me to draw the hands and time on the clock, I said, "Huh, I have a digital clock, what are you asking me about?"

Years ago they asked me if I had guns in the house., I asked the nurse if she was queer? Ended the questioning.

FYI:

On the yearly Medicare checkup do not ask any extra questions or ask for any other exams, they are not covered by the "free exam".

No.

Best medical advice anywhere. The TTF doctors will see you now.