You know you're supposed to get an annual physical. Your insurance covers it at no cost. But you keep putting it off because you're not sure what actually happens during the appointment, whether you'll need to take time off work for follow-up tests, or if "free" really means free. Meanwhile, small health issues that could be caught early go undetected.

An annual physical isn't just checking boxes for insurance — it's the most effective tool for catching problems before they become expensive, complicated, or life-threatening. This guide explains exactly what happens during an annual physical exam, which tests are included, what costs you might encounter, and where to book comprehensive physicals in Los Angeles. Our adult physical exams at Elevate Health Group provide thorough assessments at our Glendale, Burbank, and La Cañada locations.

What Is an Annual Physical Exam?

An annual physical (also called a preventive care visit, wellness exam, or checkup) is a comprehensive health assessment performed when you're not sick. The goal is to establish baseline health markers, screen for diseases in early stages, update vaccinations, and create a prevention plan tailored to your age, family history, and risk factors.

Annual physicals are different from sick visits:

• Sick visit: You have symptoms (fever, pain, cough). The doctor diagnoses and treats the immediate problem.
• Annual physical: You feel fine. The doctor looks for problems you don't know about yet and prevents future ones.

Most insurance plans — including Medicare — cover one preventive visit per year at no cost to you under the Affordable Care Act. This means no copay, no deductible. But there are important caveats we'll cover in the cost section.

What Happens During Your Annual Physical

A comprehensive annual physical typically takes 30–60 minutes and includes several components:

Medical History Review (10–15 minutes)

Your doctor will review or update:

• Current medications: Prescription drugs, over-the-counter meds, supplements
• Allergies: Drug allergies, environmental allergies, food allergies
• Past medical history: Surgeries, hospitalizations, chronic conditions
• Family history: Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions in parents/siblings
• Social history: Smoking, alcohol use, exercise habits, diet, stress levels, sleep quality
• Review of systems: Screening questions about every organ system to catch symptoms you might not have mentioned

This conversation isn't just paperwork — it's where patterns emerge and risk factors get identified.

Vital Signs and Measurements (5 minutes)

• Blood pressure: Screening for hypertension
• Heart rate: Checking for arrhythmias or abnormally high/low rates
• Temperature: Baseline measurement
• Respiratory rate: Breathing pattern assessment
• Height and weight: Calculating BMI, tracking changes over time
• Waist circumference: Abdominal obesity marker (some practices)

Our on-site laboratory delivers results the same day, so we can discuss findings during your visit.

Physical Examination (15–20 minutes)

Your doctor performs a head-to-toe assessment:

Head, eyes, ears, nose, throat: Vision screening, eye examination (signs of diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma), ear examination (hearing, infection, wax buildup), throat and mouth (dental health, oral cancer screening).

Cardiovascular: Heart auscultation (listening for murmurs, irregular rhythms, abnormal sounds), pulse assessment in multiple locations, check for leg swelling or varicose veins.

Respiratory: Lung auscultation (listening for wheezing, crackles, decreased breath sounds), breathing pattern observation.

Abdominal: Palpation for organ enlargement, masses, tenderness, listening for bowel sounds, checking for hernias.

Neurological: Reflexes (knee, ankle, biceps), balance and coordination, cognitive screening (memory, orientation) especially for older adults, strength and sensation testing.

Musculoskeletal: Range of motion assessment, joint examination for arthritis or inflammation, posture and gait observation.

Skin: Full body skin check for suspicious moles, rashes, lesions, melanoma screening.

Gender-specific exams: Women — breast exam, pelvic exam (if due for Pap smear). Men — testicular exam, prostate discussion (PSA blood test preferred).

At Elevate Health Group, our board-certified physicians perform thorough physical exams — not rushed 10-minute assessments.

Laboratory Testing (Varies by Age and Risk)

Complete Blood Count (CBC): Red blood cells (anemia screening), white blood cells (immune function, infection), platelets (clotting ability).

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): Glucose (diabetes screening), kidney function (creatinine, BUN), liver function (ALT, AST, bilirubin), electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride).

Lipid Panel: Total cholesterol, LDL ("bad" cholesterol), HDL ("good" cholesterol), triglycerides.

Our cholesterol management program provides ongoing support if levels are elevated.

Additional tests based on age/risk:

• Thyroid function (TSH): Recommended for women over 50, anyone with fatigue, weight changes, or family history
• Hemoglobin A1C: For anyone overweight, with family history of diabetes, or previous pre-diabetes. Our diabetes management service helps prevent progression
• Vitamin D: Common deficiency — low levels contribute to fatigue, bone loss, immune dysfunction
• Vitamin B12: Especially important for vegetarians/vegans, older adults, those on metformin or acid-reducing medications
• Urinalysis: Screening for kidney disease, diabetes, urinary tract issues
• STI screening: Based on sexual activity and risk factors

Cancer Screening Recommendations

Our early cancer detection service includes advanced screening options beyond standard protocols.

Vaccination Updates

• Flu shot: Annually for everyone
• COVID-19: Per current CDC recommendations
• Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis): Every 10 years
• Shingles (Shingrix): Age 50+, two doses
• Pneumonia (Pneumovax/Prevnar): Age 65+, or younger if immunocompromised
• HPV: Through age 26 (sometimes through 45)

Preventive Counseling (5–10 minutes)

Your doctor will discuss diet and nutrition, exercise recommendations, weight management (our weight management program provides comprehensive support), smoking cessation, alcohol use, stress management, and sleep quality screening.

Our preventive medicine service creates personalized wellness plans based on your physical results.

What Annual Physicals DON'T Include

Specialized diagnostics: EKG, echocardiogram, stress tests, advanced imaging (CT, MRI) are only ordered if specific concerns arise or you're high-risk. They're not automatic.

Same-day results for all tests: Most labs take 24–48 hours. Some tests (Vitamin D, thyroid, hormone panels) may take 3–5 days.

Treatment of acute problems: If you mention you've had a cough for 2 weeks during your physical, that becomes a sick visit and may incur a copay in addition to the free physical.

Cost Breakdown: What's Free vs What You Might Pay

The fine print: If your doctor addresses a chronic condition (adjusting blood pressure meds) or acute problem (new symptoms) during your physical, the visit may be coded as both preventive and diagnostic. You'll pay $0 for the preventive portion but may incur a copay for the diagnostic portion.

How to avoid surprise charges:

• Schedule a separate sick visit if you have specific symptoms to address
• Ask upfront if additional tests beyond standard preventive labs will be covered
• Confirm your insurance plan's specific preventive coverage before the visit

At Elevate Health Group, we provide cost transparency upfront and bill preventive visits correctly to maximize your insurance coverage.

How Often Do You Actually Need an Annual Physical?

The name "annual physical" suggests yearly visits, but medical evidence shows different frequencies work for different people:

Every year: Adults 50+, anyone with chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease), smokers or heavy drinkers, family history of early heart disease or cancer.

Every 2–3 years: Healthy adults under 50 with no risk factors, no chronic conditions, normal BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Exceptions requiring more frequent monitoring: New diagnoses requiring treatment adjustments, pregnancy planning, recent hospitalizations or major health events.

Our general medicine team helps you determine the right frequency based on your health status.

Where to Book Your Annual Physical in Los Angeles

Primary care practices: Your regular doctor is the best option — they know your history and provide continuity. At Elevate Health Group, we schedule annual physicals within 2–4 weeks.

Urgent care centers: Some offer physicals, but you won't have continuity of care. Results get filed, not followed up on.

Employer/school health fairs: Free basic screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol finger-stick) but not comprehensive physicals.

Concierge medicine: Longer appointments (60–90 minutes), same-day results, extensive testing. Our concierge medicine service offers this model.

What to bring to your appointment:

• Insurance card and photo ID
• Current medication list (or bring the bottles)
• Family medical history (if not already in your chart)
• List of questions or concerns
• Previous medical records if seeing a new doctor

What Happens After Your Physical

Results review: Most practices call or message you within 3–7 days with results. Normal results may come via patient portal. Abnormal results warrant a phone call or follow-up appointment.

Follow-up testing: If initial screening reveals concerns, additional tests may be needed (ultrasound, CT scan, specialist referral).

Action plan: Your doctor should provide specific recommendations — medication adjustments, lifestyle changes, specialist referrals, repeat testing timeline.

Preventive plan: Schedule next year's physical before you leave, schedule mammogram/colonoscopy if due, fill prescriptions same day.

At Elevate Health Group, we follow up on every test result and create clear action plans — not just file results and move on.

Red Flags: Signs Your Physical Was Inadequate

You were in and out in 15 minutes: Comprehensive physicals take 30–60 minutes. Rushed visits miss things.

No physical exam occurred: If your doctor only talked to you and checked blood pressure, that's not a complete physical.

Labs weren't offered: Even healthy young adults should have baseline cholesterol and glucose checked.

No follow-up on results: If you never heard back about lab results, that's a system failure.

No prevention discussion: Physicals should include diet, exercise, screening schedules, vaccine updates.

Conclusion

Annual physical exams are the cornerstone of preventive medicine. When done comprehensively, they catch diseases early, establish health baselines, and create personalized prevention plans. Most insurance covers them at no cost, making them one of the highest-value healthcare services available.

At Elevate Health Group, our adult physical exams are thorough, unhurried, and performed by board-certified physicians who actually spend time with you. With on-site laboratory capability and same-day results, we provide comprehensive care at our Glendale, Burbank, and La Cañada locations.

Schedule your annual physical or learn more about what we include.

Frequently Asked Questions