Health and Fitness : Forget the 'sports physical?'

Have your students ready for sports this fall

Remember the olds “sports physical”? Here’s a better idea. Use the expanded health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act to take advantage of your insurance plan’s “health maintenance exam,” AND fulfill the requirement for your student to participate in sports as well.

The Affordable Care Act required insurance companies to provide patients with a health maintenance exam (or yearly physical) without member cost share, such as copays, deductibles or coinsurance. Most plans provide for the free health maintenance exam but check with your insurance company to be certain.

What’s different about a health maintenance exam vs. a “sports physical”?

A sports physical only checks to make sure a student is ready for physical activity. A health maintenance exam is more thorough and intended to be prevent health problems before they occur. A health maintenance exam will include a health history review, lifestyle risk factors, and an exam of all major body systems.

This is a great opportunity to teach your young students to develop a relationship with a health care provider to maintain good health, not just respond when illness or injury strikes.

To schedule a health maintenance exam (also known as a yearly physical or “wellness exam,” call your local Virginia Gay Family Medical Clinic in Vinton, Atkins, Urbana or Van Horne.