STATEPOINT— One of the best ways to prioritize your vitality is with an annual health exam. That’ s especially true for older adults, who tend to have more health issues to manage, according to Dr. Grant Tarbox, national medical executive with Cigna

Healthcare’ s Medicare business.

Annual exams can vary and go by different names, depending on your coverage. Generally, they are offered at no cost to you through Medicare or Medicare Advantage( MA) and there are a host

of reasons to get one, Tarbox said, including the following:

Having a health care team leader. It’ s important to have a trusted advisor leading your health care team. That is the purpose of a primary care

physician( PCP). A PCP knows your family and treatment histories and concerns. They play an important role keeping a broad view of all your care needs and can help you navigate them. By visiting your PCP at least annually, you maintain a critical relationship that

18 • Good Health Magazine 2025