Your 2026 preventative care checklist: What’s actually recommended at every age

Preventative care is one of the most powerful tools you have to protect your health, but it can also be one of the most confusing. 

Do you really need an annual physical? At what age do screenings actually start? And what’s essential versus just “nice to have”?

Let’s simplify it. 

This guide breaks down what preventative care is actually recommended at each stage of life, based on guidance from organizations like the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so you can walk through 2026 knowing what matters, what can wait, and how to stay ahead of issues before they become problems. 

‍First, what is preventative care (really)?

Preventative care is healthcare you receive before you feel sick. Its goal is to catch issues early, reduce long-term risk, and keep you functioning at your best, not just treat problems after they show up.

That includes:

• Annual wellness visits
• Screenings and labs
• Vaccines
• Conversations about lifestyle, stress, sleep, and family history

Most importantly, preventative care is not one-size-fits-all. Your age, sex, family history, and risk factors all matter. 

‍In your 20s and 30s: Build the baseline

This is the decade where many people skip care because they “feel fine.” That’s exactly why preventative care matters here. 

What’s typically recommended:

• Annual wellness visit
• Blood pressure check (at least every 1-2 years)
• Cholesterol screening (starting in your 20s if risk factors exist)
• Diabetes screening if you have risk factors like obesity or family history
• Cervical cancer screening for women starting at age 21
• STI screening as needed
• Mental health check-ins

Why it matters: establishing a baseline makes future changes easier to catch, and early detection almost always means easier treatment. 

‍In your 40s: Pay attention to trends

Your 40s are less about new screenings and more about watching patterns.

What’s typically recommended:

• Annual wellness visit
• Regular blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checks
• Continued cervical cancer screening
• Breast cancer screening discussions (many start mammograms in their 40s based on risk)
• Colon cancer screening starting at age 45
• Mental health and stress assessments

This is often when “normal stress” starts turning into chronic issues. Preventive visits help connect the dots.

‍In your 50s and 60s: Catch what’s common

This is where preventive care has the biggest payoff.

What’s typically recommended:

• Annual wellness visit
• Colon cancer screening (if not already started)
• Mammograms for women
• Prostate cancer discussions for men
• Bone density screening for women starting at 65 or earlier with risk factors
• Routine vision and hearing checks
• Vaccines like shingles and pneumonia (based on age and risk)

Many of the most common conditions diagnosed in this age range are highly manageable when caught early.

‍65 and beyond: Stay independent longer

Preventative care shifts toward maintaining mobility, independence, and quality of life.

What’s typically recommended: 

• Annual wellness visits
• Fall risk assessments
• Bone health monitoring
• Vision and hearing screenings
• Cognitive health check-ins
• Medication reviews to avoid interactions

Preventive care here isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what helps you stay active and safe.

‍A quick word on personalization 

These are general guidelines. Your care plan should always reflect:

• Your personal medical history
• Family history
• Lifestyle and work demands
• Past screening results

That’s why having a consistent primary care provider matters. Preventative care works best when someone knows your full picture.

‍How Rezilient Health fits in

Preventative care doesn’t require long waits, confusing referrals, or multiple offices. With Rezilient, you can schedule preventative visits that fit your life, get labs and screenings coordinated for you, ask questions without feeling rushed, and address small concerns before they become bigger ones. If it’s been a while since your last check-in, 2026 is a great year to reset.