What happens when your most valuable employee is suddenly sidelined by a preventable health issue?
Whether it’s a top salesperson, a key technical expert, or your CEO, their absence can stall progress, burden teams, and impact your bottom line. Executive physicals are designed to catch health risks early, giving high-impact employees the proactive care they need to stay healthy and productive.
At PartnerMD, we’ve delivered executive health programs for more than 20 years. We’ve seen firsthand how preventive care protects people and strengthens businesses, and we’re here to help you make an informed decision.
In this article, we’ll answer the key questions you’re likely asking:
What is an executive physical?
How much does an executive physical cost?
Who needs executive physicals?
Let’s dive into everything you need to know to make the right choice for your company.
What is an executive physical?An executive physical is a comprehensive annual health exam that goes well beyond what a standard physical typically includes.
These advanced evaluations are built to detect health risks before symptoms surface, giving companies a powerful way to protect their people and their business.
Where a traditional annual physical might include basic blood work and a brief consultation, an executive physical typically includes:
Advanced bloodwork and labs (such as lipid panels and inflammation markers)
Imaging studies (such as CT heart scans)
Consultations with multiple medical specialists
Assessments for heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline
Optional services like genetic testing, stress resilience evaluation, or sleep studies
These exams can last from half a day to multiple days, depending on the provider. They often include lifestyle coaching or follow-up recommendations. Some providers tailor them to align with a company’s strategic goals around employee well-being, retention, or key-person risk.
Many companies use executive physicals not only as a preventive health measure, but also as a recruitment and retention tool for high-value team members.
Most executive physicals cost between $2,000 and $5,000 per exam, although some high-end programs reach $10,000 or more.
At PartnerMD, we offer two tailored levels of executive physicals:
Enhanced Physical – $2,700: Includes a half-day evaluation with comprehensive diagnostics, lab work, and a consultation designed to identify early-stage health risks.
Signature Physical – $4,000: Adds expanded diagnostics, specialist consults, and more in-depth screenings for cancer, heart health, and cognitive function, delivered in a full day.
So what are you paying for? These exams are not just diagnostic; they are strategic. The information collected from these in-depth evaluations gives patients
A full understanding of their health risks
A personalized action plan to stay healthy
A proactive approach to avoid unplanned absences or burnout
Compared to the financial impact of losing a top performer, even temporarily, the return on investment of a $3,000 annual exam can be significant.
Executive physicals are available from a range of provider types, each with different strengths depending on your company’s goals, culture, and budget.
Large hospitals like the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic are well-known destinations for executive health programs. These facilities offer prestige and access to a wide range of specialists under one roof. However, the experience is often less personalized and more structured. Scheduling can be limited, and visits may feel transactional due to the volume of patients they serve.
Regional health systems such as Emory, INOVA, or Johns Hopkins offer more localized access to executive physicals. These providers may offer similar testing to national hospitals but with shorter travel requirements and lower costs. They’re a good fit for companies that want trusted care within a specific geographic footprint.
Concierge practices like PartnerMD offer the most personalized experience in executive health care. With longer appointments, tailored testing, and relationship-driven service, they give your key employees more than just a medical exam. They provide a strategic, ongoing health partnership.
While hospitals and systems may offer scale, concierge practices are built for customization, discretion, and long-term health strategy, which is why many companies choose them for their key leaders and high-value employees.
The term “executive” might be misleading. These exams can benefit any key employee whose absence would disrupt your business.
Yes, most companies start by covering their CEO and executive team, but many also extend these benefits to:
Top sales performers
Specialized engineers or technical leaders
High-potential rising stars
Partners or founders with unique knowledge
For example:
A small company might rely on two salespeople who drive 60% of total revenue. If one of them became seriously ill, the impact could be devastating.
Or a business might have a single IT manager who keeps every system running. Losing them, even briefly, could paralyze operations.
Executive physicals help reduce this kind of key person risk by identifying health issues before they become serious.
They also demonstrate your company's commitment to employee well-being, which can help with loyalty and retention.
At PartnerMD, we understand that every company is different, and so is every executive.
We customize each executive physical using a wide range of advanced diagnostics, consultations, and assessments to meet the unique needs of each individual.
Our physicals include:
Advanced labs and imaging
Cognitive and stress assessments
Genetic testing
One-on-one consultations with specialists
We help leaders stay sharp, healthy, and resilient in high-pressure roles because a healthy executive is a productive executive.
We serve clients across six locations, including Owings Mills, MD; Richmond, VA; Midlothian, VA; Short Pump, VA; Greenville, SC; and Sandy Springs, GA.