Nearly 60% of Americans skipped at least one recommended screening last year, and doctors say the consequences of that gap grow heavier with age. Here are seven screenings worth prioritizing as the years add up.
Most of these tests take only a few minutes and are often fully covered by insurance, yet they remain among the most commonly delayed parts of routine health care.
1. Blood pressure check
High blood pressure rarely comes with warning signs, which is exactly why it gets missed. Left untreated, it raises the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. Most adults should get checked at least once a year, though anyone with elevated readings may need more frequent monitoring.
2. Cholesterol test
A simple blood test every four to six years is typically enough for most adults, though people managing diabetes or heart disease should test more often. High cholesterol contributes to clogged arteries, which raises long term cardiovascular risk.
3. Blood sugar test
Type 2 diabetes is common among older adults, and many people live with it for years before noticing symptoms. A blood sugar test can catch the condition early enough to manage it through lifestyle changes or treatment before complications develop.
4. Colorectal cancer screening
Guidance now generally recommends starting at age 45 rather than 50, with options including an at home stool test, FIT DNA testing every one to three years, or a colonoscopy every ten years. Anyone between 65 and 75 who has not had a recent screening should bring it up directly with their doctor.
5. Mammogram
Women aged 65 and older should talk with their doctor about a personalized schedule, often falling somewhere between every one to two years depending on health history and risk factors. Mammograms remain the most effective tool for catching breast cancer early, when treatment tends to work best.
6. Bone density test
Bones naturally weaken with age, particularly for women after menopause, and a bone density test can reveal early signs of osteoporosis before a fracture happens. Most women are advised to get tested once around age 65, though some may need earlier testing depending on personal risk factors, and men may need it too depending on their health history.
7. Skin exam
Skin cancer risk increases with age, making a yearly skin check an easy screening to overlook. Any new or changing spot on the skin is worth its own dedicated visit rather than waiting for the next annual checkup.
What has changed recently around screening access?
This is the part that rarely makes it into checklist articles. A recent Supreme Court ruling in Kennedy v. Braidwood preserved zero cost access to preventive screenings for more than 150 million Americans, meaning many of these tests remain fully covered without copays under current insurance rules. Separately, updated guidance now gives women ages 30 to 65 the option to self collect samples for HPV testing starting with 2027 plan years, a shift aimed at making cervical cancer screening easier to keep up with.
Skipping a screening rarely feels urgent in the moment, which is exactly why so many people put it off. Catching a problem early almost always beats catching it late, and for most of these tests, the appointment itself takes far less time than dealing with the consequences of skipping it.
