Preventive check-ups
Which preventive health check-up is right for you in Switzerland?
Not all check-ups are created equal. Here's how Ahead Health compares to the alternatives, so you can make an informed decision about your health.
- Coverage, protocols & blood panels explained
- A checklist to help you choose
- Side-by-side comparison of three check-up types
Early detection starts with the right questions
The standard question
Is there a problem right now?
A standard Swiss check-up is built to answer this, and little else.
The question you're asking
What direction is my health heading?
A different question requires a different exam: more biomarkers, more organs, expert eyes on the images.
The number of biomarkers tested, which organs are scanned, who reads your images, and what you receive afterwards can determine whether a finding is caught early or missed entirely.
90%
of heart attack risk comes from nine everyday factors, all measurable before symptoms ever appear
Source: The Lancet
1 in 5
MRI scans reveal early or reversible findings where timely action changes the outcome
Source: Ahead Health clinical data
15–20
biomarkers in a standard Swiss GP check-up vs. 80+ in a comprehensive preventive panel
Who is this for
A comprehensive check-up is designed for people who…
Want a proactive baseline
You're 30–65, feel healthy, and want a detailed snapshot of where your body stands today, before anything shows up.
Have a family history
Cancer, cardiovascular disease, or metabolic conditions run in your family. You want to monitor, not wait.
Have outgrown the GP check-up
15–20 blood markers and no imaging leaves you wanting more. You're ready for a deeper level of data.
Want to track over time
You've already had a check-up and want to compare year-on-year, because trends matter more than snapshots.
Side-by-side comparison
How full-body MRI check‑ups compare at a glance
The third column is there for context. A GP check-up serves a different purpose: it's designed around the KVG framework, usually triggered by symptoms or age-based screening guidelines. The question is whether, for your goals, that level of data is enough.
Blood analysis
Why a comprehensive blood panel matters
A standard panel can confirm there's no acute problem. A comprehensive one can show where your biology is trending, often years before any symptom appears. The right markers don't just answer “is there a problem right now?”, they answer “what direction is my health heading?”
Imaging + blood analysis
Why the combination of imaging & blood analysis matters
“A single data point can be misleading. When your blood chemistry and your imaging tell the same story, you can act with confidence. When they contradict each other, that's equally valuable, because it tells you where to look next.”
Dr. med. Anna Erat, PhD Prevention Expert
Doctor's interpretation
Plain-language context from a board-certified physician, not a list of values.
Dr. Olivio Donati
Your hs-CRP is mildly elevated, something we often see in people training for endurance events. Your plan includes steps to support recovery and lower inflammation.
2 actionsClear signals
Confirm what's in great shape, and act where it moves the needle.
Fasting glucose
Normal rangeNo actions needed
Follow-up tests
Easily book a follow-up to dive further into your body.
Ahead Advanced
+ 3 add-ons
October 25th
9:00 – 10:00
Radiologie Hirslanden Zürich
Witellikerstrasse 40, 8032 Zürich
Imaging insight
Track internal changes year over year.
Six factors that separate a good check-up from a great one
Body coverage
"Full-body" varies: head to mid-thigh vs. head to below knees, with or without gender-specific screening. Ask what's included.
Scan protocol
Same machine, different protocol, different results. A custom protocol built by MRI physicists captures more in less time.
Blood panel depth
15 to 20 markers vs. 80+. The difference includes ApoB, fasting insulin, full thyroid, and hs-CRP, all meaningful for early detection.
Report quality
Separate MRI and blood PDFs vs. one integrated report with cross-referenced findings and a personalised action plan.
Clinical setting & team
Hospital-grade facility or independent centre? Board-certified radiologists with subspecialty expertise, or general readers?
Data continuity
Can you export your data? Will the provider still exist for your next scan? Longitudinal tracking is where prevention delivers value.
Why Ahead Health
30,000+ MRIs reviewed
University-affiliated radiologists, Harvard-trained prevention lead, AI imaging specialist from TU Munich.
Biological age
11 yrs younger than your age at the time of testing (35).
Biomarkers
Findings
0 findings
One integrated report
MRI + blood cross-referenced, plain language, personalised action plan.
The experts behind your health journey
Backed by the combined expertise of our renowned medical specialists.
The experts behind your health journey
Backed by the combined expertise of our renowned medical specialists.
Read more about us
Prof. Dr. med. Edouard Battegay
Emeritus Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Zurich. Head of the International Center for Multimorbidity and Complexity in Medicine.
Dr. Jacob J. Visser
Radiologist / CMIO. Assistant Professor of value-based imaging at Erasmus University Medical Center.
Prof. Dr. Benedikt Wiestler
Professor of AI for image-guided diagnosis and therapy at the Technical University of Munich.
Prof. Dr. med. Michael Fischer
Professor of Radiology at the University of Zurich, abdominal and musculoskeletal specialist.
Prof. Dr. med. Olivio Donati
Professor of Radiology at the University of Zurich, oncology specialist and leading Swiss prostate expert.
Dr. med Anna Erat, MD, PhD
Harvard Medical School-trained prevention expert. Faculty position at the University of St. Gallen Executive School.
Your report
What you get back matters as much as the scan itself
Ahead Health Report
- Integrated MRI + blood results in one report
- Personalised action plan with clear next steps
- Written in plain language, not medical jargon
- Longitudinal tracking: compare year-on-year
- Upload previous results for richer context
- Physician-reviewed before delivery
Prof. Dr. med. Olivio DonatiYour recent health check-up provides a detailed overview of your health, showing some very positive developments alongside a few areas that warrant attention. The most notable findings are related to age-appropriate wear-and-tear in your spine.
Typical check-up report
- Separate PDFs for imaging and blood work
- Raw numbers without context or action plan
- Medical terminology, requires doctor to interpret
- No year-on-year comparison or tracking
- No upload of previous health data
- Automated or briefly reviewed
Ahead Health Report
- Integrated MRI + blood results in one report
- Personalised action plan with clear next steps
- Written in plain language, not medical jargon
- Longitudinal tracking: compare year-on-year
- Upload previous results for richer context
- Physician-reviewed before delivery
Prof. Dr. med. Olivio DonatiYour recent health check-up provides a detailed overview of your health, showing some very positive developments alongside a few areas that warrant attention. The most notable findings are related to age-appropriate wear-and-tear in your spine.
Typical check-up report
- Separate PDFs for imaging and blood work
- Raw numbers without context or action plan
- Medical terminology, requires doctor to interpret
- No year-on-year comparison or tracking
- No upload of previous health data
- Automated or briefly reviewed
Patient Report
| Glucose | 85 | mg/dL | 95 - 100 |
| BUN | 15 | mg/dL | 15 - 15 |
| Creatinine | 0.65 | mg/dL | 85 - 88 |
| eGPN | 15 | % | 82 - 92 |
| BUN/Creatinine Ratio | 140 | 16 - 90 | |
| Sodium | 142 | mg/dL | 140 - 140 |
| Potassium | 101 | mg/dL | 140 - 140 |
| Carbon Dioxide, Total | 28 | mg/dL | 4.2 - 4.2 |
| Chloride | 6.5 | mg/dL | 101 - 101 |
| Calcium, Total | 7.2 | mg/dL | 101 - 263 |
| Globulin, Total | 4.5 | mal | 3.3 - 35 |
| A/G Ratio | 2.7 | mal | 7.2 - 3.3 |
| Bilirubin, Total | 7.7 | AJG | 4.2 - 4.5 |
| Alsaline Phosphatase | 0.8 | % | 2.7 - 2.7 |
| AST (SGOT) | 20 | % | 0.8 - 1.0 |
| ALT (SGOT) | 25 | % | 0.8 - 0.8 |
Iron and TIBC
| Iron Bind Cap (TIBC) | 300 | unit | 300 - 300 |
| UIBC | 210 | mg/dL | 200 - 200 |
| Iron | 90 | % | 210 - 210 |
Your insurer may cover your check-up
Multiple supplementary insurance plans contribute to the cost of our preventive check-ups. We've confirmed coverage with leading Swiss providers. Reimbursement varies by plan.
Provider checklist
Questions to ask before you book
Use this checklist when evaluating any preventive MRI check-up in Switzerland.
Body coverage
Head to knee, or head to mid-thigh? Hip/knee scans included?
Scan protocol
Custom-built by MRI physicists, or manufacturer default?
Imaging biomarkers
How many quantitative measurements? (liver fat, brain volume, visceral fat)
Blood biomarkers
How many? Does it include ApoB, insulin, full thyroid, hs-CRP?
Report quality
Integrated imaging + blood? Personalised action plan? Plain language?
Clinical facility & team
Hospital-grade? Board-certified radiologists? How many MRIs reviewed?
Longitudinal tracking
Can you compare year-on-year? Upload existing health data?
Data continuity
Can you export your data? Will the provider still exist for your next scan?
Real results from real people
Every health journey is unique. Read how others took control of their health with Ahead.
