By now, everyone has finally consumed those last remnants of the big bird and maybe already done a little Christmas shopping. This is a good time to go through a medical check list before the year ends. Some of you have a fairly significant medical insurance deductable that has been met for the year, and because of that, any medical expenses incurred before the year ends would be a lot cheaper for you than waiting until this January to do. I will go down a list of medical procedures you still have four weeks to complete if you can.
1. Annual Exam- Are you due or overdue for this? When was your last pap smear?
2. Mammogram- Some places are already booked into January, but there are still centers that have openings
3. Annual Lab Work- Lipid profiles, Liver profiles, Thyroid testing and Metabolic profiles
4. Radiologic Procedures such as chest X-rays, ultrasounds, C-T scans or MRI's you are required to do because of pre-existing medical conditions. Were you required to do a follow up on any of these procedures this year and did not do it?
5. Other Lab Testing such as EKG's, treadmill, angiograms either as primary testing or follow- up testing.
6. Procedures such as colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and other endoscopies. Are you over 50 and still not had a colonoscopy?
7. Other specialized medical exams such as dermatologic, hematologic, oncologic, urologic, etc.
You still have time, if you want it done before the end of the year. Otherwise, there's always next year.
