As your guide to better health, Buckeye wants to help your children stay healthy. One of the best ways to do that is to go to the doctor regularly. Seeing your child’s doctor for well visits helps keep them healthy and ensures they grow properly.
What’s a well visit and why does my child need one?
Children grow and change quickly, and regular well visits help ensure they are meeting important milestones. These doctor’s appointments:
- Track your child’s growth and development.
- Help identify potential health concerns early.
- Keep your child up-to-date on vaccinations.
- Provide guidance on nutrition, sleep and overallwellness.
Well child visits also provide an opportunity for your child to become familiar and comfortable around healthcare professionals and for parents to feel comfortable asking questions or raising concerns around their child’s health.
Well visits start right after birth and are recommended to continue through adulthood. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a well visit when your child is three to five days old. These visits should continue often through age three. Afterwards, your child should see the doctor annually. Check out the recommended well visit schedule to learn more about appointments at each age.
Back to school season is a good time to go back to the doctor
Well visits are available any time of the year, but especially important as children head back to school. This is a great time to get your child up-to-date on important vaccinations and review their developmental progress. Well visits can even be paired with sports physicals. Learn more about back to school well visits from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Healthcheks are well checks
Have you heard about the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s Healthchek initiative? Healthchek screenings include well visits as well as immunizations, vision and dental screenings. Buckeye members can get all of these services completed in one visit. Just call your child’s doctor to schedule an appointment.
Get the most out of your next well visit
During your child’s well visit, their doctor is there to answer any questions or concerns about their development, behavior, sleep, eating or even interacting with family members or other children. Just like you, they want to help your child stay healthy.
Ask your child’s doctor or refer to the American Academy of Pediatric’s checklist for developmental milestones as your child grows. Use this as a discussion starter during your child’s next visit.
Buckeye makes it easy to keep your child caught up on well visits
- Concerned about cost? Well visits are covered by Medicaid at no cost to you. Plus, members can earnreward dollars when they attend a well visit and get vaccinations to spend on the things you need — likegroceries, rent, utilities and more.
- Have transportation issues? Need a ride? No problem. Call 1-866-531-0615 to arrange a free ride at least 48 hours before your vaccination appointment.
- Not sure where to go? Call your child’s doctor to schedule a free well visit today! Need a doctor? Use our find a doctor tool.