5 health screenings you may get at a Health and Well-being Assessment
From cancer screenings to fall risk assessments, here are the tests you may receive right in your own living room — no visits to the lab or doctor’s office required.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor.
Screening tests are done to spot potential health problems or diseases in people who may not have any symptoms yet, or whose symptoms are subtle. When medical issues such as diabetes or cancer are caught early, it’s more likely they can be treated effectively. With a Health and Well-being Assessment, you don’t even need to go to a doctor’s office, lab, or hospital to get the important tests you need.
Humana works together with Matrix Medical Network to offer this yearly health exam to members — at no extra cost. Matrix’s licensed clinicians can screen you at home for a wide range of conditions, including depression and kidney disease. Many of the health screenings give you immediate results too. The tests you receive at this wellness visit can vary depending on your medical history.
“We also tell members the benefits of these tests,” says Pamela Smith, NP, a nurse practitioner with Matrix Medical Network in Sumter, South Carolina.
Learn more about the different types of health screenings you may receive during your Health and Well-being Assessment.
1. Rapid A1C test
What it is: A rapid A1C test is a blood test that shows your average blood sugar levels over the past three months. It can be used to find out how well controlled a person’s blood glucose levels are, and to find out if someone has diabetes or prediabetes.
What to expect: During the test, a Matrix clinician will prick your finger to take a blood sample. That sample is analyzed for signs of high glucose. The test results are given as a percentage:
- A normal A1C level is below 5.7%.
- A prediabetes level ranges from 5.7% to 6.4%.
- A diabetes level is 6.5% and above.
Who needs it: “People who have diabetes should know if their blood sugar levels are well controlled”, says Smith. People who are overweight or obese or have a family history of diabetes or gestational diabetes also can benefit from this test.
2. Colon cancer screening
What it is: An at-home, noninvasive test that can detect signs of colon cancer.
What to expect: A Matrix clinician will provide you with a test kit at your in-home health assessment. They will review the instructions with you, so that you understand how to correctly collect a sample. At your convenience, you will collect a sample of a bowel movement and send the specimen in a provided package to a lab where it will be analyzed.
“I usually tell them to put the kit in the bathroom,” says Smith. “So, when they’re going to have a bowel movement, they’ll have it right there, and they can collect the specimen.”
The results of the test should be available within a few weeks. If any abnormalities are found, you should follow up with a colonoscopy for more detailed testing.
Who needs it: People with an average risk of colorectal cancer should be screened for the disease starting at the age of 45, according to the American Cancer Society. How often you should be screened after that depends on your results and other risk factors.
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3. Fall risk assessment
What it is: The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a screening tool that’s used to assess the risk of falls in older adults.
What to expect: You’ll start in a seated position on a chair. You will then stand up and walk 10 feet away, turn around, and return the chair. A Matrix clinician will time you.
“If they take over 12 seconds, then they’re more at risk of falling,” says Smith.
Who needs it: People over the age of 65 are most likely to take a tumble. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among this age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
4. Depression screening
What it is: The clinician will ask you to complete a short questionnaire that’s widely used to screen for signs of depression.
What to expect: “We have a number of questions we ask, like, ‘In the last two weeks, have you had trouble falling asleep or eating?’” says Smith.
Other questions include how often you feel depressed, have trouble concentrating, or feel little interest in doing activities.
“If we get a certain score, we’ll make a referral to the member’s health plan, and the health plan will contact the member with special recommendations,” she says.
Who needs it: Depression is not a normal part of aging, but research shows that older adults may be more likely to be depressed, in part because of chronic illness, the death of a spouse or close friend, or a loss of independence. One scientific review found that about 28% of adults over the age of 60 screened positive for depression.
5. Urinalysis
What it is: A urine test that checks for kidney problems.
What to expect: You’ll provide a urine sample (about 1 to 2 ounces) at home in a small container that your Matrix clinician provides. It will be sent to a lab to be analyzed. “The results of the test are usually available in two weeks”, says Smith.
Who needs it: A urinalysis is often part of a routine health exam, but it can help people with kidney disease or diabetes monitor their conditions.
See our sources:
Screening tests for common diseases: Johns Hopkins Medicine
A1C test: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Type 2 diabetes risk factors: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Colorectal cancer screening tests: American Cancer Society
Fall Risk Timed Up and Go test: Sensors
Injuries and deaths from falls: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Depression in older adults: National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus
Prevalence of depression in older adults: Psychiatry Research
Urinalysis: National Kidney Foundation
Cited sources were last reviewed on 10/27/2025
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