Preventive and diagnostic medical care both play an important part in keeping you as healthy as possible. But, sometimes the difference between the two isn’t clear. Your insurance coverage may be different depending on which type of services you receive (many preventive services are covered at 100 percent). Read on to learn the difference.
Preventative care is focused on maintaining good health and preventing future health problems. It includes services such as routine check-ups, immunizations, and screenings for various health conditions.
Diagnostic care involves tests and procedures to diagnose and treat specific health conditions or illnesses. These services are used when a patient is experiencing symptoms or has a known health concern, and the goal is to identify the underlying cause of the problem and develop or maintain an appropriate treatment plan.
Be sure to ask your doctor why a test or service is ordered. The same test or service can be preventive, diagnostic or routine chronic care (regular care based on a chronic health condition), and the cost for the service may change based on how it’s defined.
