Prevention is key to living your healthiest — and happiest — life

Last Updated on September 24, 2026

While we can’t turn back the clock, we can be proactive and slow down aging. By making preventive health screenings and treatment a priority, you are taking the necessary steps toward living a longer, healthier life.

Preventive care is proactively creating true health and preventing disease. The focus of prevention is to take the initiative in doing things to promote and support your health by preventing conditions from occurring again — or even in the first place.

At SummaCare, we understand the important role preventive care plays in allowing our members to live their healthiest and happiest life. That’s why we send annual preventive health and care opportunity letters to remind and encourage our members to get their preventive screenings by identifying recommended services and health screenings for themselves and their families.

For members with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, care opportunity letters are also sent, which provide important information about screening and care for their specific conditions.

Below is a list of campaigns and topics that are sent to members:

• January: Quarterly Condition Management Education
• February: Preventive Health Annual Wellness Visit/Primary Care Provider (PCP) Visit Newsletter
• March: Diabetes Health Education and Quarterly Condition Management Education
• April: Colorectal Cancer Screening
• May: Diabetic Retinal Eye Exam
• June: Child and Adolescent Annual Wellness Visit/Vaccines
• July: Colorectal Education and Fit Kit Information, Quarterly Condition Management Education Women’s Health Newsletter: Breast/Cervical Cancer Screenings
• August: Kidney Health Evaluation Kit Information
• October: Flu Vaccines and Quarterly Condition Management Education 

Because our members’ health and well-being is our top priority, we continue to evaluate and improve our outreach, both mail and electronic (email), to members and providers to determine additional effective ways to help members and their families get the care they need.

Nationally recognized screening guidelines

Below is a list of nationally recommended screening guidelines. Make an appointment today to talk with your primary care provider (PCP) about which of these screenings are appropriate for you.

Recommended screenings for both men and women:

• Annual wellness visit with appropriate vaccinations, review of medications, BMI and blood pressure screening
• Annual flu vaccine
• Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)
• Depression screening
• Diabetes screening: A1C, retinal eye exam, kidney health evaluation and blood pressure screening
• Lipid profile screening (cholesterol)
• Lung cancer screening
• Nutrition, physical activity and urinary incontinence counseling
• One-time Hepatitis C screening (ages 18–79)
• Smoking and tobacco prevention/cessation counseling

Recommended screenings specifically for women:

• Bone mineral density (BMD) screening for osteoporosis (ages 65 and older or if you are high risk)
• Breast cancer screening / mammogram
• Cervical cancer screening/HPV screenings / Pap Smear (ages 30–64)

Setting up your health for success

SummaCare wants you to stay healthy and informed by seeing your PCP for an annual wellness visit. It’s a great way to plan your goals and set up your health and wellbeing for success!

Yearly wellness exams are an especially important tool to be proactive about your health as you age. During these visits, you can discuss preventive care with your PCP, ask questions about current medications, address your health concerns and more.

We recommend the following important topics to discuss with your PCP:

• Preventive screenings
• Mental health
• Prescription medicines
• Exercise
• Fall prevention
• Urinary incontinence

Think of your PCP as your partner to becoming your healthiest version of yourself. Regular checkup appointments to build a strong relationship with your PCP helps to ensure you’re on the right track to living a healthy, active life.