Many companies recently completed health insurance re-enrollment periods for the year. While it is important to have that insurance, it is equally important to take advantage of the preventative screenings and treatments that most insurances encourage.

The impulse to put off check-ups is an easy one to fall prey to, but giving into that impulse can also be life-threatening.

This month is cervical health awareness month, when women are reminded to schedule their regular Pap and HPV tests, which are critical to early detection of cervical cancer.

According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. That number is especially alarming when you realize that the disease is virtually always preventable with vaccinations and screenings, since cervical cancer is almost always caused by the human papillomavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of course, cervical cancer isn’t the only thing that can be found in regular screenings. Regular check-ups help find problems early, when your chances for treatment and a cure are better for virtually any health concern.

Even if you walk out with a clean bill of health, you will gain the peace of mind of knowing for a fact that you are healthy and have the opportunity to ask your doctor about any other health concerns while you are in the office.

Since these check-ups are free under most insurances, you have nothing to lose and a lifetime with friends and family to gain.