Be an Advocate for Your Own Care

Prevention is an important part of being healthy. That can mean having a yearly exam. It can mean having routine screening tests that can help spot many potential problems before they become serious health issues.

Whether you’re making sure to get the preventive care you need or dealing with an illness, stepping up to help direct your own health care can have life-changing results.

Get Involved in Your Care

It is vital to be your own health advocate throughout your life. From knowing your family history to understanding changes in your body, you know more about your needs than anyone. What steps can you take to be more actively involved in your health care?

Do your own research. For someone with a family history of cancer, that may mean getting genetic testing to find out if you are at risk, too. For others it may mean learning the details of your family health history. Knowing your family history is key. It’s especially important to look at close, blood-related family members, such as parents and siblings — male and female. Finding out about more distant relatives’ health is also important. All of these details will help your doctor decide next steps.

Speak up. It’s essential to be involved in your care and get the answers you need. Keep asking questions until you understand. Keep notes on what you’re told. And be sure to share important information like family history and any changes in how you’re feeling with your provider. This information helps your provider give you the best care possible.   

Find support. Whatever the issue, others have faced similar problems. There are support groups and online forums for just about any health condition. And talk to other family members. You don’t have to go it alone.

Expect results. It’s critical to have doctors who listen to you. If you don’t feel you’re being heard, consider changing doctors or getting a second opinion.

Catch Breast Cancer Early

For women with a family history of breast cancer, screenings are a big part of fighting a cancer diagnosis. Screenings help lower the chances of dying from breast cancer. They can help spot the disease early, when it’s simpler to treat.

If you are a woman age 20 or older, talk to your doctor about clinical breast exams. If you are over the age of 40, talk about the benefits and risks of having a mammogram.

Decades of research shows that women who have routine mammograms are more likely to find breast cancer early. For many, that means they’re more likely to be cured.

If your results are normal, keep getting mammograms according to the plan you’ve set with your doctor. A yearly well-woman exam is a good time to talk about the timing that’s best for you.

Many screenings are covered by your health plan at no cost when services are provided by a doctor in your health plan’s network.* That includes mammograms, Pap tests and colorectal cancer screenings.

Health plans also often cover genetic counseling and testing for those with certain family histories. Genetic testing and counselors are covered without cost-sharing if you qualify.

*Preventive services at no cost applies only to members enrolled in non-grandfathered health plans. You may have to pay all or part of the cost of preventive care if your health plan is grandfathered. To find out if your plan is grandfathered or non-grandfathered, call the customer service number on your member ID card.

Sources: Don’t Be Shy: 4 Tips for Talking to Your Doctor,  Johns Hopkins Medicine; Are You Up to Date on Your Preventive Care?,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025; How to Talk to Your Doctor: 8 Tips for Better Communication,  Scripps Health, 2026; Breast Cancer Screening,  National Cancer Institute, 2025; Bring Your Brave Campaign - Take Action,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; About Mammograms,  CDC, 2024; Breast Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis,  American Cancer Society