Many factors contribute to the physical, emotional, and mental health of kids and teens. Below, you’ll find information and resources on everything from check-ups and vaccines to proper nutrition and stress management.
Routine screenings and check-ups—called preventive care—keep kids healthy. As part of your MVP health plan, these services may be available at no cost, based on recommended guidelines. Get preventive care recommendations based on your child’s age.
Regular check-ups—called Well-Child visits—are an important first step of keeping children healthy. Instead of visiting the doctor only when they are sick, these appointments can help find any problems early—when they are more treatable—and help protect children from a variety of potentially serious health problems. Regular check-ups with your child’s doctor also provide parents the opportunity to talk about any medical or mental health questions or concerns they may have.
Watch the below video to learn more about the importance of Well-Child visits to your child’s health and well-being.
Immunizations—or vaccines—are the safe and most effective way to protect children from illnesses such as whooping cough, chicken pox, polio, and measles. Doctors follow a vaccination schedule. It is timed to protect children when they are more likely to be exposed to disease. Children need vaccines starting at birth, through young childhood, and into their teens. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to access information and recommended immunization schedules. Be sure to talk to your child’s doctor about which immunizations your child may need.
When children are due for a vaccine, parents may be unsure what the vaccines are for. The chart below shows the diseases that children are protected from with the help of vaccines.
| Disease | Vaccine Name |
| Varicella (chickenpox) | VAR |
|
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough) |
DTaP (infants/young children)/ Tdap (teens) |
| Haemophilus influenzae type B | Hib |
| Hepatitis A | HepA |
| Hepatitis B | HepB |
| Human Pappiloma Virus | HPV |
| Influenza (Flu) | Flu vaccine |
| Measles, Mumps Rubella | MMR |
| Meningococcal | MenACWY-D/MenACWY-CRM |
| Polio | IPV |
| Pneumococcal | PCV13 |
| Rotavirus | RV |
Kids go through a lot of changes in the first few years of their lives. To help them stay healthy, it’s important that they visit their doctor and have certain tests completed. Talk to your child’s doctor about these tests:
Newborn babies will have a hearing test before they leave the hospital. If they do not pass the hearing test, they must have another hearing test by the time they are three months old. If a child has hearing loss, it is important to diagnose it early, so they can get help to avoid developmental delays.
Children should have a blood lead screening around age one and again around age two. Lead can cause many health issues and developmental delays. It can be found in paint, dust, soil, water, and old toys. Younger children have a higher risk of contact with lead because they put their hands and other objects into their mouths.
Learn more about blood lead testing:
Children should receive developmental screenings during their well-child visits when they are nine months, 18 months, and 30 months old.
During developmental screenings, a doctor checks your child’s physical and mental growth. If your child is experiencing any delays, doctors can provide assistance right on the spot. This assistance is called “early intervention.”
Autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) affects about 1 in 54 children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children be screened for ASD at their 18- and 24-month well-child check-ups. Early intervention can help improve outcomes for many children with autism. To learn more about autism and other developmental disabilities, visit HealthyChildren.org.
If your child has recently been diagnosed with ASD, learn more about our recommended evaluations for autism spectrum disorder.
You and your child should always feel comfortable speaking with your child’s doctor about mental health or possible substance use concerns. An annual well-care visit is a good time to address these issues as well. The doctor will be able to help with additional care or treatment, if necessary.
Below are some common issues that children and teens may struggle with. Talk to the doctor right away if you or your child may be experiencing:
For more information, visit our Behavioral Health page.
It’s never too early (or too late) to teach healthy habits to kids. But parents and caregivers know that may be easier said than done. That’s why we’ve put together lots of resources to help.
Our wellness resources for young kids (ages five through 12) help you set healthy routines the whole family can rely on. Setting routines helps kids see healthy habits as a normal part of their day. Over time, these routines help make healthy habits stick, so they last for years to come.
Unlike young kids, teens may resist routines they haven’t chosen for themselves. That’s why our wellness resources for teens focus on giving teens healthy options to choose from. This helps teens personalize their wellness and gives them a sense of ownership.
An MVP Case Manager can help you manage new or ongoing health concerns, both physical and behavioral.
Sign into Gia for information specific to your plan, benefits, coverage, and more.
