National Self-Check Month: Covered Preventive Exams You Shouldn’t Skip This Month

National Self-Check Month is an annual observance that reminds people to monitor their health through regular visual and physical exams. While many people may wait to get preventive exams ordered by a doctor, self-care at home can give early warning signs of health concerns that may need attention, benefiting overall health and providing peace of mind.

Read on to learn more about the importance of performing self-checks, whether health insurance covers preventive care and what resources are available to help you get affordable coverage.

On This Page

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  What Is National Self-Check Month?

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  National Self-Check Month History

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  What Does It Mean To Perform a Self-Check?

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  Why Is Performing a Self-Check Important?

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  What Preventive Exams Does Health Insurance Cover?

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  Health Insurance and Preventive Exam Costs

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  Financial Assistance and Resources for National Self-Check Month

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  FAQs

What Is National Self-Check Month?

National Self-Check Month is an annual observance that encourages people to be more proactive in monitoring their health.^[1] It can be easy to put off certain health checks, either because life gets in the way of scheduling a checkup or because someone may want to avoid potentially negative health updates. Between 2023 and 2025, roughly three in five Americans put off important health screenings, despite many chronic diseases and cancers being much more treatable or preventable if caught early.^[2][3]

By taking the time this month to perform important self-checks at home, schedule regular checkups with a physician and look up resources to improve overall health, people can use National Self-Check Month as a reminder to care for themselves now so they can remain healthy in the future.

When Is National Self-Check Month?

National Self-Check Month is observed every February.^[1] This gives people an entire month to review health goals, schedule preventive checkups and perform self-exams.

National Self-Check Month History

National Self-Check Month was first officially observed in 2018 and organized by Self Chec, a nonprofit organization. Self Chec founded the observance to provide resources and support that help people become more proactive in monitoring their health.^[1]

What Does It Mean To Perform a Self-Check?

A self-check, sometimes called a self-screening or self-exam, uses tools and practices to determine whether someone has any physical health irregularities and whether they might be showing signs of a developing condition. Some self-checks can be done by simply looking at the body, such as examining the skin for lumps or discoloration that could be signs of cancer. Tools can also be used to check health, such as testing for hypertension with a blood pressure monitor.

Why Is Performing a Self-Check Important?

Self-checks are an important part of ongoing health monitoring, helping people ensure that nothing serious is developing and that any issues are addressed by a physician. Many self-checks can be performed visually or by feeling certain parts of the body, meaning there are few, if any, barriers to checking at home rather than waiting to see a doctor. This way, health concerns can be shared with a health care specialist as soon as they're noticed.

About one in five Americans get an annual physical, so self-checks can signal that something that could have gone overlooked for years needs to be reviewed by a physician.^[4] This can be critical in preventive care, with 80% of deaths from multiple common types of cancers being prevented due to early detection.^[5]

Using self-checks in combination with regular physical screenings can be a great way to provide peace of mind and stay on top of any health issues that develop before they become debilitating or life-threatening.

What Preventive Exams Does Health Insurance Cover?

Most health plans will cover numerous preventive exam services at no additional cost, including copayments or coinsurance, even if someone hasn’t met their annual deductible. This coverage is included in plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace, but final expenses and coverage can vary by plan and type of preventive medical service. Some of the preventive service screenings typically covered can vary between adults, women, pregnant people and children, and include:^[6][7][8]

Some screening types may have additional requirements to be fully covered. For example, colorectal cancer screenings for adults are typically only covered for people between 45 and 75 years old.^[6]

What To Do if You Don't Have Health Insurance

If you want to get preventive screenings and don’t have insurance, you may be able to get assistance through county medical assistance programs or free clinics. Otherwise, you may need to pay out of pocket for preventive screenings or visits to a health care professional.

Health Insurance and Preventive Exam Costs

The cost of preventive exams varies by service type. Some of these exam costs, alongside a physical by a physician, without insurance, include:^[9][10]

• Skin cancer screening: $120 to $300
• Blood tests: $29 to $99, depending on the test
• Prostate cancer screening: $69
• Pap smear: $39 to $125
• Pediatric visit: About $100
• Primary care office visit: $70 to $300

Alternatively, the average monthly premium for U.S. plans is $625.^[11] Depending on your risk for certain illnesses or cancers, it may be worth considering enrolling in a health plan to avoid high out-of-pocket costs.

Financial Assistance and Resources for National Self-Check Month

If you can’t afford health insurance to reduce costs, you may qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). However, qualifying for these programs can vary by state, with each featuring different requirements for maximum annual income.^[12] Additionally, if you’re 65 or older and meet other requirements, you may qualify for Medicare.^[13]

You could also search for local free community clinics, telehealth platforms, retail walk-in clinics like CVS or urgent care centers that may offer preventive exams at a lower cost. Several resources, such as how to correctly perform a self-check for breast or testicular cancers, are available online for free.

Local community health centers may also offer free resources on performing various self-checks.