Annual Wellness Guidelines for Ages 50 to 74

Quartz is dedicated to supporting you with the resources and guidance you need to succeed on your health and wellness journey — whenever and wherever that may be. From preventive screenings to immunizations and general guidelines, we’re here to keep you informed and feeling confident about what’s best for you and your health.

Ages 50 to 74

The checkups, screenings, and immunizations listed are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While these are recommendations, we encourage you to talk to your provider about your best options.

Wellness check

• Annual routine physical exam, check blood pressure, assess overall health, and discuss healthy habits.

Screening tests

• Cholesterol: Check every five years.
• Colon cancer: Regular screening is recommended for adults ages 45 to 75.
• HIV/AIDS: Check between ages 15 and 65.
• Hepatitis c: For adults ages 18 to 79.
• Lung cancer: For adults ages 50 to 80 who are at high risk for lung cancer because they’re heavy smokers or have quit in the past 15 years.
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm: For men, ages 65 to 75 who have ever smoked, ask your doctor about getting screened.
• Diabetes (Type 2): For adults ages 40 to 70 who are overweight or obese.

Immunizations

• Influenza (flu): Annual flu vaccine.
• MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella): Adults ages 19 to 59 should have at least one dose of the vaccine recorded in their medical charts.
• Tdap/Td (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis/tetanus and diphtheria): Adults under age 65 should receive a tetanus vaccine (Tdap or Td) every 10 years.
• Zoster (shingles): Adults ages 50 and older should receive a two-dose vaccine series.
• Pneumococcal (pneumonia): At least two vaccines one year apart beginning at age 65.
• COVID-19 vaccine: The CDC recommends adults age 50-74 participate in a primary three-part COVID vaccine series. This series is recommended and followed by a booster. The dose is dependent on the participant’s age, the brand of vaccine received during the primary series, and the length of time since the last dose was received. Please speak with your provider for more guidance and information.

Preventive screenings

• Prostate cancer: Men should talk to their provider about their risk. Regular screening is not recommended for men who have an average risk.
• Cervical cancer: Women ages 30 to 65 should have a Pap test every three years, or high-risk HPV (hrHPV) screening every five years, or a Pap test with hrHPV screening every five years.
• Breast cancer: Mammography is recommended for women every one to two years.
• Bone density: Women should begin checking at age 65.

Quartz Medicare Advantage (HMO) and Dual Eligible members: Visit the Medicare website to see a complete list of covered preventive care and services, such as annual checkups and preventive screenings.

Use this interactive tool to receive personalized screening recommendations.