The only way to guarantee a free annual checkup is to go in, say nothing about your state of health, let the dr take your vitals and leave.
In previous annual checkups with my primary care doctor, I have mentioned symptoms as varied as:
- recent depression
- trouble breathing
- irregular heartbeat
several of which resulted in follow-up appointments / lab work, but all of which were still covered 100% as annual checkups.
If you can find a doctor that takes your ACA plan then anything other than checking for a pulse is likely to result in some sort of bill.
https://www.kff.org/report-section/2018-employer-health-bene...
And I have never had a doctor not accept an ACA compliant plan, which have been in the BCBS network for me.
This website seems to have a decent summary of coverage rules:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/aca-compliant-health-insuranc...
https://www.verywellhealth.com/preventive-care-whats-free-wh...
If your employer provided insurance it's good insurance, that's the perk of working there and part of your compensation.
If your employer doesn't provide it you have to buy during open enrollment through the exchange and the plans are terrible and expensive.
If you bring up a complaint, it's no longer a preventative check-up, it's addressing a complaint, which has a different billing code and different reimbursement.
In the case of annual checkups, I believe insurance companies are required to cover them 100% by the Affordable Care Act:
https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/preventive-care...