Annual physical exams for back-to-school
You’ve likely already added pens, folders, notebooks and backpacks to your back-to-school checklist. An important item to add is your child's annual physical exam — also called well-child visits — with their primary care provider (PCP).
For infants and young children, well-child visits focus on physical and mental development, immunizations, pediatric preventive care, nutrition and safety. But as children become young adults, the focus shifts to developing healthy lifestyle habits and avoiding high-risk behaviors.
Why annual back-to-school physical exams are important
Annual physical exams aren’t just for school requirements – they're an important part of your child’s ongoing preventive care.
“It is so beneficial for young people to develop a good relationship with a trusted health care professional,” said Gregory Buran, M.D., senior medical director of utilization management at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “Ideally, this relationship starts at a very young age and leads up to the adolescent years.”
“Even young children can develop trust and comfort with their provider, which can positively impact health behaviors,” said Buran. “As your child enters adolescence, having a nurturing, caring relationship with a primary care provider is even more important. Annual physical exams are a great way to make that happen.”
Find a primary care provider to schedule your child’s back-to-school physical exam today
Building a relationship between your child and their provider sets the foundation for lifelong wellness. With myWellmark®, it's easy to find an in-network primary care provider for your child — making it simple to prioritize your child’s health today and into the future.
Types of back-to-school physical exams
Based on your child’s health needs and activities, there are two types of physical exams they may have. Regardless of the type of exam your child receives, regular visits with their provider can help your child build trust with their provider and make sure they have all the childhood immunizations and screenings they need. Scheduling annual physical exams around back-to-school time each year will also help your child build the habit of seeing their PCP at least once a year for preventive care — a habit that becomes more important as they age.
Here are the two types of physical exams your child may need before school starts this fall.
Annual physical (well-child visit)
An annual physical — also called a checkup or well-child visit — is a comprehensive examination of your child’s health. It allows primary care providers to track growth and development, ask questions about your child's wellness and conduct mental health screenings. Their provider may also offer laboratory testing and provide needed immunizations as well as screenings for important adolescent health issues like diabetes, obesity or depression.
Providers can offer guidance about nutrition, exercise, confidence, family dynamics and independence. This is the appointment where you and your child will have the best opportunity to discuss any health concerns with their provider.
Sports physical
A sports physical is a basic exam that helps determine whether it’s safe for a child to participate in a particular sport. Most states have sports physical requirements for junior high and high school athletes before they begin a new competitive season. These exams take about 15 minutes.
Sports physical vs. annual physical: which does your child need?
Most schools require only minimal information from sports physicals, including height, weight, pulse, blood pressure, a health history and a brief physical examination of the major body systems. Rather than a brief sports physical, Wellmark recommends annual physical exams for children.
“Even if you have a sports physical, it’s a good idea to see your regular provider for an annual physical as well,” said Buran. “Your provider knows you — and your health history — better than anyone you talk to briefly during a sports physical. It’s about developing a relationship with someone you can trust.”
In many cases, a recent annual well-child visit may meet school requirements for a sports physical without the need for a separate appointment. In this case, have your provider complete the school’s physical form and use the date of the well-child visit.
Health insurance coverage for back-to-school physical exams
Annual physical (well-child) exams for children are included in most health plans as a preventive care benefit. If your child needs a sports physical, Wellmark recommends scheduling an annual well-child exam and having any sports physical documentation completed during that time as sports physicals are typically not a covered benefit. Log in to or register for myWellmark to check your plan's specific benefits and out-of-pocket costs before making an appointment.
Find a primary care provider you can trust
If you or your child don’t have a designated primary care provider or you’re looking to switch to a different one, Wellmark can help. First, read this article about finding the right primary care provider for you and then head to myWellmark. When you log in to myWellmark, you can search for an in-network provider near you and take a more active role in your health today.