Question 6

[Imogene]

Below are examples of the types of preventive services Americans should receive. Have you gotten the
prevention you should have? If not, how can public policy help?

EXAMPLES OF RECOMMENDED PREVENTIVE SCREENINGS
Screening Mammography:
. All of the major professional societies that make recommendations about breast cancer
screening recommend that women by age 50 and older get a routine annual screening
mammography for breast cancer. Many of these societies recommend that women
should undergo such screening at age 40.14
. Yet, only 71.8 percent of women age 50-64 and 63.8 percent of women 65 or older
received a screening mammogram in 2005.15
Flu Shots:
. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all adults over the
age of 50 receive an annual vaccine against influenza.16
. Yet, in 2006, only 45.9 percent of adults over the age of 50 received a flu shot.17
Cholesterol Screening:
. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that doctors routinely screen
men ages 35 years and older and women ages 45 years and older for high cholesterol.18
. Yet, according to data from 2007, only 74.9 percent of adults in the U.S. had their
cholesterol checked within the past five years.19

 

[Imogene]

Below are examples of the types of preventive services Americans should receive. Have you gotten the
prevention you should have? If not, how can public policy help?

EXAMPLES OF RECOMMENDED PREVENTIVE SCREENINGS
Screening Mammography:
. All of the major professional societies that make recommendations about breast cancer
screening recommend that women by age 50 and older get a routine annual screening
mammography for breast cancer. Many of these societies recommend that women
should undergo such screening at age 40.14
. Yet, only 71.8 percent of women age 50-64 and 63.8 percent of women 65 or older
received a screening mammogram in 2005.15
Flu Shots:
. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all adults over the
age of 50 receive an annual vaccine against influenza.16
. Yet, in 2006, only 45.9 percent of adults over the age of 50 received a flu shot.17
Cholesterol Screening:
. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that doctors routinely screen
men ages 35 years and older and women ages 45 years and older for high cholesterol.18
. Yet, according to data from 2007, only 74.9 percent of adults in the U.S. had their
cholesterol checked within the past five years.19

 

[Imogene]

Below are examples of the types of preventive services Americans should receive. Have you gotten the
prevention you should have? If not, how can public policy help?

EXAMPLES OF RECOMMENDED PREVENTIVE SCREENINGS
Screening Mammography:
. All of the major professional societies that make recommendations about breast cancer
screening recommend that women by age 50 and older get a routine annual screening
mammography for breast cancer. Many of these societies recommend that women
should undergo such screening at age 40.14
. Yet, only 71.8 percent of women age 50-64 and 63.8 percent of women 65 or older
received a screening mammogram in 2005.15
Flu Shots:
. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all adults over the
age of 50 receive an annual vaccine against influenza.16
. Yet, in 2006, only 45.9 percent of adults over the age of 50 received a flu shot.17
Cholesterol Screening:
. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that doctors routinely screen
men ages 35 years and older and women ages 45 years and older for high cholesterol.18
. Yet, according to data from 2007, only 74.9 percent of adults in the U.S. had their
cholesterol checked within the past five years.19

 

[Imogene]

Below are examples of the types of preventive services Americans should receive. Have you gotten the
prevention you should have? If not, how can public policy help?

EXAMPLES OF RECOMMENDED PREVENTIVE SCREENINGS
Screening Mammography:
. All of the major professional societies that make recommendations about breast cancer
screening recommend that women by age 50 and older get a routine annual screening
mammography for breast cancer. Many of these societies recommend that women
should undergo such screening at age 40.14
. Yet, only 71.8 percent of women age 50-64 and 63.8 percent of women 65 or older
received a screening mammogram in 2005.15
Flu Shots:
. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all adults over the
age of 50 receive an annual vaccine against influenza.16
. Yet, in 2006, only 45.9 percent of adults over the age of 50 received a flu shot.17
Cholesterol Screening:
. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that doctors routinely screen
men ages 35 years and older and women ages 45 years and older for high cholesterol.18
. Yet, according to data from 2007, only 74.9 percent of adults in the U.S. had their
cholesterol checked within the past five years.19

 

[Imogene]

Below are examples of the types of preventive services Americans should receive. Have you gotten the
<br />prevention you should have? If not, how can public policy help?
<br />
<br />EXAMPLES OF RECOMMENDED PREVENTIVE SCREENINGS
<br />Screening Mammography:
<br />. All of the major professional societies that make recommendations about breast cancer
<br />screening recommend that women by age 50 and older get a routine annual screening
<br />mammography for breast cancer. Many of these societies recommend that women
<br />should undergo such screening at age 40.14
<br />. Yet, only 71.8 percent of women age 50-64 and 63.8 percent of women 65 or older
<br />received a screening mammogram in 2005.15
<br />Flu Shots:
<br />. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all adults over the
<br />age of 50 receive an annual vaccine against influenza.16
<br />. Yet, in 2006, only 45.9 percent of adults over the age of 50 received a flu shot.17
<br />Cholesterol Screening:
<br />. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that doctors routinely screen
<br />men ages 35 years and older and women ages 45 years and older for high cholesterol.18
<br />. Yet, according to data from 2007, only 74.9 percent of adults in the U.S. had their
<br />cholesterol checked within the past five years.19

 

[Landy]

yearly mammograms=yes
yearly flu shots=yes
cholesterol screening=getting it checked the end of this month as a matter of fact<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Possibly more gov't sponsored TV commercials promoting these tests would help raise awareness.
When pharmaceutical companies remind us of tests, medical conditions, etc. I tend to dismiss it as them only caring about us getting placed on one of their meds.*shrugs*

 

[Landy]

yearly mammograms=yes
yearly flu shots=yes
cholesterol screening=getting it checked the end of this month as a matter of fact<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Possibly more gov't sponsored TV commercials promoting these tests would help raise awareness.
When pharmaceutical companies remind us of tests, medical conditions, etc. I tend to dismiss it as them only caring about us getting placed on one of their meds.*shrugs*

 

[Landy]

yearly mammograms=yes
yearly flu shots=yes
cholesterol screening=getting it checked the end of this month as a matter of fact<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Possibly more gov't sponsored TV commercials promoting these tests would help raise awareness.
When pharmaceutical companies remind us of tests, medical conditions, etc. I tend to dismiss it as them only caring about us getting placed on one of their meds.*shrugs*

 

[Landy]

yearly mammograms=yes
yearly flu shots=yes
cholesterol screening=getting it checked the end of this month as a matter of fact<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Possibly more gov't sponsored TV commercials promoting these tests would help raise awareness.
When pharmaceutical companies remind us of tests, medical conditions, etc. I tend to dismiss it as them only caring about us getting placed on one of their meds.*shrugs*

 

[Landy]

yearly mammograms=yes
<br />yearly flu shots=yes
<br />cholesterol screening=getting it checked the end of this month as a matter of fact<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />Possibly more gov't sponsored TV commercials promoting these tests would help raise awareness.
<br />When pharmaceutical companies remind us of tests, medical conditions, etc. I tend to dismiss it as them only caring about us getting placed on one of their meds.*shrugs*

 

[serendipity730]

If insurance companies and physicians had more incentives to ensure people participate in preventative medicine, I believe these numbers would be higher. Until a few years ago, I had to pay $25 for a flu shot each year, a fee my insurance did not cover. This may be cost prohibitive for some. Increasing access to screening would also help. However, some individuals will always chose not to partake in screening, regardless of availability or affordability.

 

[serendipity730]

If insurance companies and physicians had more incentives to ensure people participate in preventative medicine, I believe these numbers would be higher. Until a few years ago, I had to pay $25 for a flu shot each year, a fee my insurance did not cover. This may be cost prohibitive for some. Increasing access to screening would also help. However, some individuals will always chose not to partake in screening, regardless of availability or affordability.

 

[serendipity730]

If insurance companies and physicians had more incentives to ensure people participate in preventative medicine, I believe these numbers would be higher. Until a few years ago, I had to pay $25 for a flu shot each year, a fee my insurance did not cover. This may be cost prohibitive for some. Increasing access to screening would also help. However, some individuals will always chose not to partake in screening, regardless of availability or affordability.

 

[serendipity730]

If insurance companies and physicians had more incentives to ensure people participate in preventative medicine, I believe these numbers would be higher. Until a few years ago, I had to pay $25 for a flu shot each year, a fee my insurance did not cover. This may be cost prohibitive for some. Increasing access to screening would also help. However, some individuals will always chose not to partake in screening, regardless of availability or affordability.

 

[serendipity730]

If insurance companies and physicians had more incentives to ensure people participate in preventative medicine, I believe these numbers would be higher. Until a few years ago, I had to pay $25 for a flu shot each year, a fee my insurance did not cover. This may be cost prohibitive for some. Increasing access to screening would also help. However, some individuals will always chose not to partake in screening, regardless of availability or affordability.

 

[kmaried]

Honestly, I think a lot of people don't get these services just because they don't feel like getting them. It doesn't matter how much the government spends on any public policy.

My dad is a stubborn 65 year old man. You tell him to get a flu shot (free, even) he won't. A lot of people don't like shots. Having CF I get a flu shot every year, but have had to beg, drag, and bribe my boyfriends to get one for my benefit... I've found that flu shots are available through corporate programs, walmart, ymcas, rite aid, anywhere for about $20-$25 which is not cost prohibitive for most. It's a matter of desire.

 

[kmaried]

Honestly, I think a lot of people don't get these services just because they don't feel like getting them. It doesn't matter how much the government spends on any public policy.

My dad is a stubborn 65 year old man. You tell him to get a flu shot (free, even) he won't. A lot of people don't like shots. Having CF I get a flu shot every year, but have had to beg, drag, and bribe my boyfriends to get one for my benefit... I've found that flu shots are available through corporate programs, walmart, ymcas, rite aid, anywhere for about $20-$25 which is not cost prohibitive for most. It's a matter of desire.

 

[kmaried]

Honestly, I think a lot of people don't get these services just because they don't feel like getting them. It doesn't matter how much the government spends on any public policy.

My dad is a stubborn 65 year old man. You tell him to get a flu shot (free, even) he won't. A lot of people don't like shots. Having CF I get a flu shot every year, but have had to beg, drag, and bribe my boyfriends to get one for my benefit... I've found that flu shots are available through corporate programs, walmart, ymcas, rite aid, anywhere for about $20-$25 which is not cost prohibitive for most. It's a matter of desire.

 

[kmaried]

Honestly, I think a lot of people don't get these services just because they don't feel like getting them. It doesn't matter how much the government spends on any public policy.

My dad is a stubborn 65 year old man. You tell him to get a flu shot (free, even) he won't. A lot of people don't like shots. Having CF I get a flu shot every year, but have had to beg, drag, and bribe my boyfriends to get one for my benefit... I've found that flu shots are available through corporate programs, walmart, ymcas, rite aid, anywhere for about $20-$25 which is not cost prohibitive for most. It's a matter of desire.

 

[kmaried]

Honestly, I think a lot of people don't get these services just because they don't feel like getting them. It doesn't matter how much the government spends on any public policy.
<br />
<br />My dad is a stubborn 65 year old man. You tell him to get a flu shot (free, even) he won't. A lot of people don't like shots. Having CF I get a flu shot every year, but have had to beg, drag, and bribe my boyfriends to get one for my benefit... I've found that flu shots are available through corporate programs, walmart, ymcas, rite aid, anywhere for about $20-$25 which is not cost prohibitive for most. It's a matter of desire.