Asklemmy

I'd double- and triple-check the small print.
They'll find a way to still charge you.

My health insurance denied covering my vasectomy so i put it off. Later that year i was in an accident and hit my max out of pocket pretty quick. I called up my doctor and had them resubmit the preauthorization. got it covered at 100%

I'm still pretty pissed that sterilization for women is covered at 100% under my plan but not for men. (It should be both 100% imo)

Not a medical procedure, but take the time to reevaluate your medical plan before open enrollment! Look at the cheaper plans and see how much you'd save in premiums. It might be greater than the difference in max out of pocket. And if you get a qualified "high deductible" plan you can even contribute the savings to an HSA that you get to rollover and keep forever into retirement, without ever paying taxes on it.

Get on Ozempic or Mounjaro

Do you snore? Get a sleep study and a CPAP - thats pricy! Need a colonoscopy? Gel shots in your knees? Any family histories that would warrant testing for cancer markers?

This is the perfect opportunity to recreationally infect yourself with rare short term diseases. Try breaking your arm or nose so you have a story. Self harm has never been so cheap.

Edit: See evasive_chimpanzee's comment here, as the following seems to be incorrect information

Seriously though get checked for prostate cancer. Especially if you're over 25 it's very possible and catching it early will be a massive difference.

Same for everyone reading this. I doubt it's that expensive so please look into it and get checked if affordable where you are.

Do every test available for prevention and prophylaxis.
Get your general practitioner to do a full health check, ECG, EEG, cardiac ultrasound, a full blood panel, bloodpressure, pulmonary function, skin cancer prevention ect.
Schedule a gastroscopy and colonoscopy.
Check in with an urologist to get your prostate and urinary tract checked.
If you can, get a full body scan. Either PET or MRI.

Nearly every serious disease or health issue is easier prevented or treated when caught before it casues real issues.
Every cancer there is, has a better outcome and is easier treated when found early. Most of them are silent until very late in the game.

This is something I would recommend to anyone: Take advantage of every preventative messure or examination that is available to you!
There is no illness that you can detect too early.

Teeth. Teeth right the fuck now. And if somehow there is nothing wrong with them see if your insurance will cover a flouride coat to keep them that way.

Oh and literally every cancer screening possible. Get your butt checked, your nuts checked, some dermatologists will literally check every inch of your skin. Tell your doctor about every bad habit you have and see what else they're willing to look for.

Vasectomy if you don't plan on having kids. Also consider mental healthcare. Everybody could use a little bit now and then.

I say blow your free healthcare on something frivolous and fun.

See if they'll swap your left kidney with your right one.

Snip snip

To your "edit" point: Don't take a handful of downvotes personally; it's pretty easy to do accidentally on mobile so they may have been unintentional

What you mean is, your HMO has had to dust off the "not medically necessary" stamp.

If you're on any expensive meds, now'd be a good time to get them refilled. ...and 'my backpack got stolen!' them and get them refilled again if that's covered.

If you've got anything you think needs to be addressed with any urgency at all, skip the normal process and go to the ER to complain about your symptoms, especially if you've got ANY pain in your abdomen or tenderness in your lower back (which could mean kidney stones).

Infact, even if you don't have pain, go in and tell them you feel nauseous after eating anything greasy or fatty, and you'll get a free ultrasound of your gallbladder to see if there's any stones in there. ...don't actually accept surgery to remove it unless there are stones that look like they're for sure going to be problematic, cuz you WILL have symptoms once it's gone (eating will make you feel like shit... your body should adjust eventually, but that's not a guarantee, and it can take anywhere from a few months to years).

So, if they offer a scan or any diagnostic, do it. If they offer surgery, have a long think about whether it's actually worth doing.

Do you have any persistent pain or discomfort when doing things? Get that checked out.

Another +1 for colonoscopy.

Also if there's a family history of anything nasty, see if there's a test for it my maybe? (E.g. heart attacks, get blood work done for cholesterol).

Get a full physical including blood work.