well check visits

My girls went in for their 2yr check up today. We saw the other doctor in the practice with my older three and once they hit two they started going yearly. This doctor wants us to come back in 6mos for a 2.5yr checkup. It's just something he does and not because my girls are unhealthy or anything. Is this normal? I haven't heard of this before. If I take them it won't be covered by my insurance because once their 2 they cover yearly exams. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet.

 

I'd call and ask if there's a good reason, and I probably wouldn't go.

 

I'm posted this question on another board I visit and the response is the same. I plan to ask when I take my DD2 in for her well visit as well. If it's just a well it's something I do then I won't go. If he has a good reason then I'll schedule.

 

I wouldn't bother.

To be honest, now that I'm on kid 3 and 4, we stopped at their 2 yr check :lol: I know they are growning well, I have no concerns about anything, they aren't due for shots for a few years...so I'm not too worried about it My oldest is 10, his last well check was around 5-6 yrs old. My daughter is about to turn 6 and went last year for her last well check. The twins are 3.5.

 

I wouldn't go, either. If I didn't have concerns, I probably wouldn't bother with them anymore, like Danielle. Assuming they are growing/maturing nicely I just really don't see much of a point beyond babyhood.

 

I would not go!

 

We had a 2.5 year check up, but it was paid for by our insurance. If it wasn't covered, I would definitely have skipped it.

 

My twins just turned 7 and at 6 their ped said see you at 8! I would not go if the 2.5 year old appt. is not covered.

 

I would call your insurance and see if it is covered.

My two go to every single well-check. I have had some wonderful Drs. and both my girls have some special needs. I think the well-check helps both create a positive atmosphere where they see the Dr and nothing 'negative happens' (shots, illness, etc). It also gets a chance for the Dr to see the girls at 'normal' vs ill. We also have used well-check to ask about developmental checkpoints that have lead to therapies that have been very helpful.

I am very very pro-early intervention. Both my kiddos have had therapies ( OT/PT) and I think that has helped them now that they are a bit older. I did need referrals for therapy, and both times the Dr agreed with my concerns or questions, which enabled me to be more proactive.

2.5 is a good time to notice developmental differences since so much growth occurs and somethings can be more apparent at 2.5 vs 2 or 3. (speech, potty training questions, sensory concerns, sleeping/eating concerns, etc)- which is probably why that Dr continues the 6 mont well-check visit pattern until age 3. At 3, kiddos can qualify for school based services and some get referred for further evaluation by preschool workers, but before age 3 most referrals for evaluations are from Drs or family.

If it is not covered, I would go to the 3 yr visit. If you have any major concerns make a separate appointment for a 'non-well check'.

 

Our ped office tried this with our twins even though they had no issues. After checking with our health insurance, finding out it was not a covered well visit if it was less than a year, and calling back to the office we decided to wait until their 3-year old visit. The nurse at the ped office told me that it was just some doctor's preference, but since it was going to run us $150 per child that if there were no issues we were fine to wait and to make a regular appointment if something came up during that time period.

 

Our pedi said it was a "standard" WC visit at their office, *but* that insurance often wouldn't cover it. Said he'd leave it up to me, if I felt it was necessary, we could schedule it or just skip to the 3 year check up. We skipped it!

 

We did a 2.5 year well visit. I figured it was standard. It was covered by our insurance. You could specifically ask your insurance to cover it since the doc is recommending it. If no, maybe just go if there are concerns.

 

I wanted to check and it appears that the AAP is now recommending a 2 1/2 year (30 month) check up. We did have one and my insurance did initially deny the visit saying that only one visit was allowed in a 12 month period. When I argued that it was 2 1/2 year old checkup they agreed it was covered.

Like the PP, I would specifically ask your insurance to check to see if they cover the 2 1/2 year (30 month) well check up, adding that the doctor has requested it and see what they say.

I tend to go to the well visits because my thinking is that another pair of eyes (someone who does not see my kids everyday) can't hurt. If your insurance still won't cover it, I would call the pediatrician's office and tell them the situation. But if it isn't covered and the pediatrician's office could not help, I wouldn't worry about it.

GL!

 

Our pedi wants a 2.5 year visit. It's standard for everyone at their office. Ours is covered by our insurance so we'll do it.

 

My boys' doctor said that it was optional. They still liked to do it and it's normal in their practice, but they won't do it if the person's insurance doesn't cover it. My boys' insurance did cover it as it's becoming more and more common for pediatricians to request a 2-1/2 year check up. Then after the 3 year check-up, they go every year.