At What Age Do I Need a Health Assessment?
You can have a Bluecrest health assessment from the age of 18. Many people start thinking about regular checks around 40, when conditions such as high blood pressure and raised cholesterol become more common. You may benefit from checks earlier if you have a family history of certain conditions or other risk factors.
The right time depends on your health, lifestyle and family history. It's also worth knowing which checks the NHS offers at your age, so you can make the most of those services and understand what a private health assessment can add.
What Is a Health Assessment?
A health assessment brings together tests that measure different aspects of your health. It can help you understand your current health and risk factors, and spot changes that may need further attention.
A health assessment is different from a single test. A test investigates one aspect of your health, such as your iron levels. A health assessment combines multiple tests to give you a broader picture of your health at that point in time.
Health assessments can help you track changes over time and identify results you may want to discuss with your GP. They do not replace NHS screening programmes, medical advice or tests recommended for a specific health concern.
What Is a Full Body Health Assessment?
A full body health assessment, also known as a Health MOT, combines blood tests and other measurements to give you a broader view of your health. Having assessments at intervals can help you compare results over time and understand changes in areas such as cholesterol, blood sugar and kidney function.
Bluecrest offers three levels of general Health MOT, with different tests included in each package:
Each package includes access to the 24/7 GP helpline for 12 months. The Complete Health MOT also includes a private GP consultation.
When Should I Start Getting Health Assessments?
There's no single age that's right for everyone. Your health, family history, lifestyle and existing conditions all affect which checks may be useful and how often you should have a health check.
From around 40, regular health assessments can be a practical way to track changes in areas such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. If you have risk factors or concerns about your health, you may want to speak to your GP about appropriate checks sooner.
It's also important to take up NHS screening invitations when you're eligible. NHS screening looks for particular conditions in specific age groups, while a private health assessment brings together a range of tests. One does not replace the other.
Who Can Book a Bluecrest Health Assessment?
Bluecrest Health Assessments are available to adults aged 18 and over. New customers can book up to the age of 88, although individual tests have their own eligibility criteria.
For example:
- PSA test: available to men aged 40–79.
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) test: available to people aged 40–79.
- Bowel cancer risk test (qFIT): available from age 40.
- Lung function test: available to people under 80.
These age limits apply to specific tests, rather than the whole Health MOT. Bluecrest's eligibility criteria and exclusions explain who can have each test, while those considering private health assessments over 80 may also need to check which tests are available.
Health Check-Up Recommendations
The checks that may be relevant to you change with age. The summary below separates NHS screening and health checks from the additional information a Bluecrest Health Assessment can provide.
NHS screening programmes differ slightly across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The ages below refer to England, unless stated otherwise. Always check the guidance for where you live and follow invitations from your local NHS service.
| Age | What the NHS offers in England | What a Bluecrest assessment can add |
|---|---|---|
| 20–39 | Cervical screening from age 25 for eligible people with a cervix. Other checks depend on individual health needs. | A baseline for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body composition and selected vitamin levels. |
| 40–59 | NHS Health Check from 40–74, usually every five years; cervical screening continues when eligible; bowel and breast screening start at 50. | A broader set of blood tests and measurements, with age-specific options such as PSA and qFIT where eligible. |
| 60+ | Continued bowel and breast screening when eligible; abdominal aortic aneurysm screening for men in the year they turn 65; lung screening for eligible people aged 55–74 where available. | Continued tracking of health markers, including blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney function and selected heart and bone health measures. |
Health Checks in Your 20s and 30s
You don't have to wait until middle age to take an interest in your health. Your 20s and 30s can be a useful time to establish a baseline, especially if you want to track changes over the years.
What the NHS offers
- Cervical screening: offered from age 25 to eligible people with a cervix, continuing according to the NHS programme.
- Other checks: your GP can advise on tests or investigations based on your symptoms, medical history and risk factors.
- Testicular health: there isn't an NHS testicular cancer screening programme. Get to know what's normal for you and contact your GP if you notice a change, lump or swelling.
What a Bluecrest assessment can add
A Health MOT can provide a baseline for measurements such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body composition. Selected vitamin tests can also help you understand particular aspects of your health.
Vitamin D is one example of a marker that can be low in younger adults. On average across the year, around 41% of 18 to 34s test low for vitamin D. It's the highest of any age group. (Bluecrest Wellness Health Assessment Data, January 2022 to July 2026.)
This figure is based on Bluecrest customer results, not the general population. A low result doesn't necessarily mean you'll have symptoms, but it may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
Establishing a baseline now may also help you compare results when considering health checks in your 40s.
Health Checks in Your 40s and 50s
Your 40s and 50s can be a good time to review your health markers and understand whether anything has changed. The health checks worth considering in your 40s and health checks worth considering in your 50s depend on factors such as family history, smoking, activity levels, diet and existing conditions.
What the NHS offers
- NHS Health Check: in England, eligible adults aged 40–74 are generally invited every five years. It assesses risks including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Bowel cancer screening: offered from age 50 to 74 in England, using a home testing kit.
- Breast screening: NHS breast screening starts at age 50 in England and is offered to eligible people up to their 71st birthday. If you have a family history or notice a breast change, speak to your GP rather than waiting for an invitation.
- Cervical screening: continues for eligible people within the programme's age range.
- Prostate health: there is no NHS population screening programme for prostate cancer. Men who have questions about their risk, including those with a family history, can discuss the benefits and limitations of a PSA test with their GP.
What a Bluecrest assessment can add
A Health MOT combines tests that can help you understand more about markers such as cholesterol, blood sugar, liver function and kidney function. The results can give you a baseline to compare with future assessments.
Cholesterol flags become more common with age in Bluecrest customer data – from 39.5% in 18–34s to 60.8% in over-55s. (Bluecrest Wellness Health Assessment Data, January 2022 to July 2026.)
These figures reflect Bluecrest customers, rather than the general population, and don't indicate that every person in an age group has high cholesterol. Your own result and overall risk are what matter.
Bluecrest also offers a bowel cancer risk test (qFIT) from age 40, and a PSA test for eligible men aged 40–79. These are private tests, not NHS screening programmes, and they don't replace advice from your GP or NHS screening invitations.
Health Checks in Your 60s and Beyond
As you get older, health checks in your 60s can help you keep track of changes in your health alongside the screening programmes you're eligible for. Your GP can advise on checks that are appropriate for your circumstances.
What the NHS offers
- Bowel cancer screening: continues for eligible adults aged 50–74 in England.
- Breast screening: continues for eligible people up to their 71st birthday in England. People aged 71 and over can request screening.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening: men are invited for screening in the year they turn 65 in England.
- Lung cancer screening: targeted lung health checks are being rolled out for eligible people aged 55–74 who have a history of smoking. Availability depends on the local programme.
What a Bluecrest assessment can add
A Health MOT can help you track health markers over time, including blood pressure, cholesterol and kidney function. Depending on the package, it may also include measurements relating to heart rhythm, peripheral arterial disease and bone health.
Bluecrest customer data show that red-flag high blood pressure rates become more common with age: red-flag high blood pressure rates nearly quadruple, from 9.5% of under-35s to 37.8% of over-55s.
This is a pattern in Bluecrest customer results, not a prediction of an individual's risk. Blood pressure can be affected by several factors, and an assessment result should be interpreted in context.
People considering private health assessments over 80 should also check which tests they're eligible for.
Comprehensive Health Assessments From Bluecrest Wellness
A Bluecrest Health MOT brings together a range of blood tests and other measurements in one appointment. There are three levels of Health MOT, so you can compare the tests included and choose the package that suits your needs.
Health MOTs
- Active Health MOT – 24 blood readings, 7 non-blood tests and access to the 24/7 GP helpline for 12 months.
- Core Health MOT – 36 blood readings, 7 non-blood tests and access to the 24/7 GP helpline for 12 months.
- Complete Health MOT – 37 blood readings, 7 non-blood tests, access to the 24/7 GP helpline for 12 months and a private GP consultation.
You can compare all three Health MOTs to see what each includes.
Vitamin Profiles
- Core Vitamins Profile – 4 blood readings, a personalised Results Report and guidance.
- Advanced Nutrients and Vitamins Profile – 6 blood readings, a personalised Results Report and guidance.
Health Assessments for Women
- Female Cancer Risk Package – 35 individual tests, 3 home samples, a GP consultation and 24/7 GP helpline access.
- Female Cancer Risk Complete Package – 42 individual tests, 3 home samples, a GP consultation and 24/7 GP helpline access.
Compare the female cancer risk packages.
Health Assessments for Men
- Male Cancer Risk Package – 34 individual tests, 2 home samples, a GP consultation and 24/7 GP helpline access.
- Male Cancer Risk Complete Package – 41 individual tests, 2 home samples, a GP consultation and 24/7 GP helpline access.
Compare the male cancer risk packages.
The Bottom Line
There's no single age when everyone should start having health assessments. From 18, you can use a Health MOT to establish a baseline, while regular checks can become more useful as your health risks and circumstances change. If you have a family history or specific concerns, speak to your GP about what's appropriate for you.
Take up NHS screening invitations when you're eligible. A private health assessment can complement that care by bringing together a range of health markers in one appointment.
Compare Bluecrest Health MOTs and book your assessment.
FAQs
Where can I get a full body health check?
Bluecrest offers Health MOTs and cancer risk assessments for women and men. Appointments take place in person at clinics across the UK and Ireland.
What's included in a full health assessment?
The tests included depend on the package you choose. The Complete Health MOT includes blood pressure, body composition, heart rhythm (ECG), heart disease and stroke risk, peripheral arterial disease, liver and kidney function, cholesterol and diabetes markers, essential proteins and iron, bone health markers, lung function, blood health markers, immune system markers and Lipoprotein(a). It also includes a personalised Results Report, 12 months of 24/7 GP helpline access and a private GP consultation.
Check the package details before booking, as the tests included differ between Active, Core and Complete.
Who should have a full body health assessment?
Adults aged 18 and over can book a Bluecrest Health Assessment, subject to the eligibility criteria for individual tests. Many people start thinking about regular assessments around 40, but younger adults may also find them useful, particularly if they have risk factors such as a family history of disease, high blood pressure, smoking, low physical activity or concerns about their diet.
If you have an existing health condition, take medication or have symptoms you're concerned about, speak to your GP about the most appropriate checks.
Is there an age limit for a Bluecrest health assessment?
Bluecrest Health Assessments are available from age 18, and new customers can book up to age 88. Some individual tests have their own age limits. For example, the PSA and peripheral arterial disease tests are available from ages 40–79, the qFIT bowel cancer risk test from age 40, and the lung function test for people under 80.
See the Bluecrest exclusions and advice information for full details. You can also read our guide to private health assessments for people over 80.
What does the NHS offer at my age?
In England, cervical screening is offered from age 25 to eligible people with a cervix. Breast screening starts at 50 and is offered up to the 71st birthday, while bowel screening is offered from 50 to 74. Eligible adults aged 40–74 can also be invited for an NHS Health Check, usually every five years.
Men are invited for AAA screening in the year they turn 65, and targeted lung health checks are being rolled out for eligible people aged 55–74 with a history of smoking.
The programmes and eligibility rules can differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check the NHS screening timeline for current guidance.
Anna Jones
Chief Nursing Officer, Bluecrest
