Well Visits: The Door to Better Health and a Path to Stronger Partnerships
A well visit is much more than a routine check-up — it connects what’s happening at home, school, and in everyday life with your child’s long-term well-being.
I’ve learned this firsthand as a mom of two children, ages 5 and 2. In their short lifetimes, we’ve lived in Arizona, Colorado, and Maryland. Every state has its own rules — different vaccine forms, school paperwork, and even different lead testing requirements. Each move meant I had to share my children’s health history again and again, explain my concerns, and make sure nothing important was missed. These experiences taught me how to speak up for my children’s needs.
Parenting, Growth, and Changing Needs
Parenting is a constant learning curve. Just as you settle into one stage, say, toddlerhood, another appears, like preschool or early childhood. These shifts require different care and attention.
Developmental screenings are an important part of well-visits especially for young children. Developmental screeners are a set of questions or activities that help identify if your child is learning and developing as expected. They look at skills like:
- Talking and understanding language
- Moving and using muscles (like walking or drawing)
- Playing and getting along with others
- Problem-solving and learning new things
If screenings show that your child may be behind in one or more areas such as (speech, motor, or social delays) more screening and testing can be done, or they can be referred for early intervention. In 2023, the Colorado Early Intervention program served around 11,000 children up to age 3 that were evaluated and found to be eligible for early intervention.
Under Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), early interventions birth to age 3 who have delays or disabilities are covered. Early intervention can include services like speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or special instruction. The earlier children get this help, the better their chances of success are in school and life.
More Than a Check-Up
A well visit might look standard — measurements, vaccines, quick talk — but it’s your moment to address the whole child and family. This can be a time to:
- Review allergy symptoms
- Request developmental screenings even when everything seemed fine
- Handle sports physicals and school/Individualized Education Program (IEP) paperwork
- Have important talks about mood, friendships, or school
- Ask about any additional support that is non-medical for the family and child
If you speak a language other than English, you have the right to free language assistance. You can:
- Search for or ask for assistance from our customer service team to find a provider that speaks your language
- Ask for an interpreter when you make the appointment
- Say your preferred language and dialect
- Ask for extra time if you are using an interpreter
- Bring a short list of your questions to make sure you cover everything
Building Trust With Your Child’s Provider
Here’s are some tips for visits:
- Share your top concerns early: Example: “I want to talk about allergies, a developmental screening, and school readiness.”
- Be clear and specific: Give examples or dates if you can.
- Ask questions: If you don’t understand something, say so.
- Plan for follow-up: Schedule next well visit appointment before you leave and call to follow up on referrals.
- Say what works: Let them know when advice has helped your child.
Why Well Visits Matter for Colorado Medicaid Families
If your child is age 0 to 20 and is covered by Health First Colorado, they qualify for the EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment) program. This free benefit covers:
- Annual well visits
- Immunizations
- Lab testing
- Developmental, vision, dental, hearing, and behavioral screenings
- Sports and camp physicals
- Referrals for early intervention services if needed
- Any care your child needs that is determined as medically necessary must be provided
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A Final Thought
Well visits aren’t just an appointment; they’re bookmarks in your child’s life story. During one visit, a provider offered me a simple suggestion that solved weeks of sleepless nights due to feeding challenges, and it changed our season. Over time, these moments become a steady rhythm of care: supporting resilience, confidence, and belonging.
Sometimes, that rhythm starts with something tiny, like asking for a developmental screening, making your voice heard, or ensuring language access. These small steps open big doors for your child’s health and future.
