Annual preventive exams can include blood pressure, height and weight, blood tests, EKG, fecal occult blood test, and colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy. These exams are crucial in preventing chronic diseases, building your health record with your healthcare provider, and detecting any health problems you may have right now.

For men over 50, there are additional tests to perform:

Prostate exam

At 50, men should start screening tests to look for early signs of prostate cancer. Your healthcare provider will insert a gloved finger into the rectum and feel the prostate for hard, lumpy, or abnormal areas. Enlargement could indicate benign enlargement or even cancer.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

Prostate Specific Antigen is a blood test that can help diagnose prostate cancer. If the results are high, a biopsy of the prostate may be needed. Men over the age of 50 should discuss the pros and cons of PSA screening with their healthcare providers.

A health plan could cover these preventive services for you and your family. Let us help them today!

At Texas Medical Care Plans, your friends and family can still enroll in a health plan. Share their contact information with us so we can get in touch with them, or have them contact us today at (915) 781-1614 to advise them on the benefits they could have at no cost.