What to ask your doctor

Here are some important questions you should ask your doctor when you go for a visit:

•  Do I need to come back for another visit?
•  Can I call for any test results?
•  What else do I need to know or do?
•  Is this a preventive or a diagnostic care visit?
•  What should I do to prevent or delay health problems?
•  Are there any changes I should make to improve my health?
•  Are there any tests or screenings I should have, based on my age or other risk factors?
•  Am I due for any shots?

After you’ve talked with your doctor, there are three questions you should be able to answer for yourself:

   1. What is my main problem?
   2. What do I need to do?
   3. Why is it important that I do this?
If you can answer those three questions, you’ll know you got the information you need to get or stay healthy.

National Patient Safety Foundation, Ask Me 3.(Accessed January 2011): npsf.org
Anthem publication MANSH3911ABS Rev. 1/11 F007545

What’s preventive care and diagnostic care?

Did you know that there are tests that can help you stay healthy, catch any problems early on and could save your life? These tests are called preventive care because they can help prevent some health problems. They’re different from diagnostic tests, which help diagnose a health problem. Diagnostic tests are given when someone has symptoms of a health problem and the doctor wants to find out why.


It’s important to know the difference between preventive tests and diagnostic tests. For example, if your doctor wants you to get a colonoscopy (a test that checks your colon) because of your age or because your family has a history of colon problems, that’s called preventive care. But, if your doctor wants you to get a colonoscopy because you’re having symptoms of a problem, like pain, that’s called diagnostic care.

Preventive care is paid for by most medical benefit plans, but you’ll have to pay part of the cost of diagnostic care, depending on your specific plan.

Not all preventive care is recommended for everyone, so talk to your doctor about what you need.

Anthem: MANSH3911ABS Rev. 1/11 F007545