According to data from the National Health Information Center, just under half of adults (45.6%) had a preventive check-up with a general practitioner in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, only 37.1% of women had a preventive gynecological check-up, even though they’re entitled to one every year. Women still go to preventive check-ups more often than men. According to the General Health Insurance Company, women are often the ones who book their partner’s check-up too.
Those are the statistics. Behind the numbers, though, are everyday situations we know from our own lives. Why might that be?
Why we forget about ourselves
“Nothing hurts.”
The brain responds to signals. Until the body lets us know that something is wrong, prevention isn’t a priority. On top of that, prevention has no visible reward: when the result is fine, nothing changes. We often don’t see a reason to go to the doctor. And we only go once we “see” one.
“It won’t happen to me.”
Psychology calls this optimism bias. We see risks realistically, but more in others than in ourselves. It’s natural, and in everyday life it helps us. When it comes to health, though, it can mean we put off exactly what we shouldn’t.
“I’d rather not know.”
Sometimes we don’t go precisely because we’re afraid of the result. We avoid information that might bring unpleasant news. But putting off uncertainty doesn’t make it any smaller. Add embarrassment, for example with a urological examination, and we have one more reason to put it off again.
“There’s no time for it right now.”
We feel the effort it costs us today more strongly than a benefit that will come sometime later. The phone call, the waiting room and taking time off work all happen today, while the benefit is years away. That’s why something more pressing always wins.
“I’m the one who keeps track of that.”
In many households, one person is in charge of the whole family’s health. They keep track of appointments, medications and vaccinations. There’s a lot on the list, and they leave the least room on it for themselves.
Small hacks to help you not forget about yourself
👉 Book at the same time.
When you book an appointment for your child or partner, book one for yourself right away too. One phone call, two appointments. Linking something new to something you already do is the easiest way not to skip it.
👉 Give prevention a fixed month.
For example, November or the month of your birthday. When prevention has its own place in the year, you don’t have to decide each time whether now is the time or not.
👉 Book your next appointment before you leave.
You make the decision once, while you’re still at the doctor’s office, and you’re sorted for a year or two ahead.
👉 Write it down as a meeting, not a task.
A task on a list can be pushed back forever. A meeting with a time and place is much harder to push back.
👉 Pair it with something pleasant.
After a morning blood test, have breakfast at your favorite café. After physiotherapy, go for a walk. When an appointment has a pleasant part too, it’s easier to look forward to.
Your health insurance covers a preventive check-up:
- with a general practitioner once every two years
- with a dentist once a year
- with a gynecologist once a year
- with a urologist once every three years (men aged 50 and over)
From a certain age, screenings are added as well, such as a mammogram or a colorectal cancer test. You’ll find exactly what you’re entitled to on your insurer’s website.
For your family and for yourself
Much of what you do for others, you can also do for yourself, directly through your benefits.
👉 Get vitamins and supplements for the whole family in a single order from the Health category. Add something for yourself to the cart too.
👉 You can have an extended blood test done at Unilabs. If you’re going with someone from your family, go together.
👉 If your back or neck is acting up, book physiotherapy. Prevention takes less time than dealing with pain later.
👉 Alongside your preventive dental check-up, we recommend a dental hygiene appointment. In our Dentistry and Orthodontics section, you can choose from several clinics. It’ll come in handy for the kids too.
👉 Stable mental health also makes everyday life easier. Online therapy can help even where the wait for an appointment with a psychologist is long.
Caring for others is natural. It just doesn’t have to replace caring for yourself.
Sign in to your account and explore our partners where you can make the most of your employee benefits.
Article Summary
Many adults neglect preventive check-ups. According to the data, only 45.6% have a check-up with a general practitioner and only 37.1% of women have a gynecological one, even though they find time to take care of their family. The reason is a combination of psychological barriers: "nothing hurts", optimism bias, fear of the result, lack of time, and leaving the responsibility to one member of the household. These keep pushing prevention aside until a small problem becomes a bigger one.
The solution is to make the decision easier. Book appointments for yourself and your family at the same time, give prevention a fixed month, book your next appointment before you leave, write it down as a meeting and pair it with something pleasant. Your benefits cover vitamins, extended tests, physiotherapy, dental hygiene and online therapy. Taking care of yourself isn't selfish; it's an essential part of taking care of the whole family.
