The back-to-school season is a whirlwind of fresh notebooks, new backpacks, and busy schedules. While checking off items on the school supply list is top of mind, there is one essential step that belongs at the very top of your family’s preparation: scheduling your keiki’s annual Well-Child Visit.
Making sure your children are healthy, growing, and protected is the absolute best foundation you can give them for a successful school year.
Why Well-Child Visits Matter (Even When Keiki Aren't Sick)
It is easy to think of the doctor’s office as a place to go only when your little one is feeling under the weather. However, preventive care is a powerful tool. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) emphasizes that regular wellness checkups play a crucial role in your child’s long-term development.
Here is what makes these regular visits so vital:
- Tracking Milestones: Pediatricians track physical growth, cognitive development, and social milestones. Catching any developmental delays early allows for supportive interventions during critical learning years.
- Keeping Vaccines Up to Date: Immunizations shield your keiki—and their entire school community—from preventable diseases. Back-to-school season is the perfect time to ensure they have the necessary school shots.
- A Space for Big (and Small) Questions: These visits are a dedicated opportunity for you to partner with your doctor. You can discuss sleep patterns, nutrition, behavioral changes, learning struggles, or mental health.
- Building a Trusting Relationship: Regular visits help children establish a comfortable, trusting bond with healthcare providers, reducing anxiety about medical care as they grow.
Recommended Wellness Schedule
Keeping track of the recommended checkup schedule helps ensure your keiki gets the right care at the right age. The AAP recommends following a timeline for routine preventive visits.
Schedule your child’s wellness visit with their doctor today and earn $50. Learn more at
Babies
1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months
Toddlers
15 months, 18 months, 24 months and 30 months
Childhood & Adolescence
Once every year from age 3 up to their 21st birthday.
Earn a $50 Reward
Earn a $50 prepaid card for keeping your family healthy through the Hawaiʻi Child Wellness Incentive Program (HCWIP), which offers financial rewards to Medicaid parents for every child under 18 who completes an annual well-child checkup.
Don’t miss out! Schedule your child’s wellness visit with their doctor today and head to
AlohaCare Members:
Get Well-Child Visits at No Cost!
As an AlohaCare member, Well-Child Visits are 100% free for your keiki (ages 0-21). Together, we can make sure our keiki are thriving and ready to take on the new school year with confidence!
Need to schedule or have questions?
- AlohaCare Customer Service: Call us at 808-973-0712 to discuss your benefits or get help finding a provider.
- 24/7 Nurse Advice Line: If you have health questions after hours and can’t reach your doctor, call 1-855-690-5930 anytime, day or night.
Resources for Parents
To learn more about what to expect at your child’s next milestone checkup, explore these trusted parental resources:
- HealthyChildren.org (Powered by the AAP) – Comprehensive developmental guides and wellness checklists.
- CDC’s Developmental Milestones – Interactive trackers to monitor your keiki’s early growth stages.
At AlohaCare, Your Health is in Caring Hands
AlohaCare is a nonprofit health plan created in 1994 by Hawaiʻi’s community health centers and Queen Emma Clinics. We support people of all ages who qualify for government-funded health plans. We are proud to be the second largest Medicaid and Medicare health plan in Hawaiʻi, serving families across the state.