Frequently Asked Questions

My HeartCheck includes a health and family history review, blood pressure reading, 12-lead ECG/EKG, and an echocardiogram, also called a heart ultrasound.

These tests help look for electrical and structural heart abnormalities that may not cause symptoms and may not be found during a routine physical. The ECG measures the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart, while the echocardiogram provides a visual image of the heart’s size, structure, function, and valves.

Each HeartCheck is reviewed by a pediatric cardiologist, and families receive a written report within 7 to 14 days.

No. My HeartCheck is not an ECG-only screening. Each HeartCheck includes health history, blood pressure, a 12-lead ECG/EKG, an echocardiogram, and pediatric cardiologist review.

This is important because an ECG by itself does not provide the same information as an echocardiogram. The ECG looks at electrical activity, while the echocardiogram helps evaluate the structure and function of the heart.

No. My HeartCheck is optional and parent-directed. We do not believe families should be scared or pressured into screening.

Some schools, teams, or organizations may share information about an upcoming HeartCheck event, but the decision to schedule is made by the parent or guardian.

The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology do not recommend a nationwide mandatory ECG screening program for every athlete. Their concerns include cost, access to follow-up care, false positives, and how screening programs are implemented.

My HeartCheck is different from a mandated ECG-only program. Our screenings are optional, include more than an ECG, have upfront pricing, and are reviewed by pediatric cardiologists.

We also believe emergency preparedness remains essential. AED access, CPR training, emergency action plans, and routine medical care are all important parts of protecting young athletes.

False positives can happen with any screening test. A false positive means a test raises a concern, but later evaluation shows that the child does not have a dangerous heart condition.

This is one reason My HeartCheck does not operate as an ECG-only program. Including an echocardiogram and pediatric cardiologist review helps place findings in better clinical context before families are told what, if anything, needs follow-up.

Not every abnormal or unusual finding means a child has a life-threatening condition. If follow-up is recommended, families are given information to share with their child’s physician or cardiologist.

No. My HeartCheck does not bill insurance for HeartCheck events. Families pay the listed price at the time of scheduling.

This means families will not receive a surprise insurance claim or unexpected bill from My HeartCheck after a HeartCheck screening.

If your child needs follow-up care after a HeartCheck, that follow-up would take place with your own physician, cardiologist, hospital, or medical provider and may involve separate costs or insurance coverage.

By working with pediatric cardiologists, we are able to test children as young as 8 years old. That said, our screening is intended primarily for youth ages 12 to 25.

If you register a child between the ages of 8 and 12, some heart conditions we screen for may not yet have developed.

If your child has symptoms such as chest pain with exercise, fainting, unexplained shortness of breath, heart palpitations, or a known family history of heart disease or sudden cardiac death, you should discuss those concerns directly with your child’s physician.

No screening can guarantee that a child has no heart risk. A HeartCheck can help identify many electrical and structural concerns, but no test can detect every possible heart condition or predict every future event.

Families should continue regular checkups with their child’s physician and should never ignore symptoms such as fainting, chest pain with exercise, unexplained shortness of breath, or palpitations.

The required forms must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian and brought to the screening.

As long as those forms are completed and signed, your child may attend with another adult.

Access the required forms here.

The screening itself typically takes approximately 30 minutes. Pre-registration is required to reserve your child’s appointment.

Click here to schedule your child’s HeartCheck.

Some heart conditions may develop or become more noticeable as a child grows, which is why families may choose to repeat screening periodically.

After an initial screening, follow-up screenings may be considered at ages 16, 18, 20, and 25. Families should also follow the guidance of their child’s physician, especially if symptoms, medical history, or family history changes.

The standard cost of a My HeartCheck is $179. Occasionally, community organizations or nonprofit partners sponsor HeartCheck events, allowing families to participate at a reduced cost. If a sponsored event is available, the reduced price will be clearly displayed when scheduling.

Additional discounts are available for families who qualify. The price is shown before scheduling, and My HeartCheck does not bill insurance for community HeartCheck events.

If you have an HSA or FSA through your employer, you may be able to use those funds to pay for the screening. You may need a special receipt from My HeartCheck to submit to your employer, so please be sure to ask.

Apply for financial aid here.

A full refund for cancellations will be honored if written notice is received at least 5 days prior to your scheduled appointment. Requests must be sent to info@myheartcheck.org.

A full refund, minus a $25.00 processing fee, will be honored for cancellation requests received less than 5 days prior to your scheduled appointment.

Within 48 hours of your appointment date, we are unable to honor appointment changes or cancellations. No refunds will be provided for missed appointments.

My HeartCheck does not bill insurance for community HeartCheck events.

For insurance to cover a medical service, there must typically be an underlying condition, symptom, or medical reason that justifies the testing. Most children being screened through My HeartCheck do not have symptoms that would support billing insurance for preventive screening.

If your child has symptoms or a known medical concern, you should talk with your child’s physician about the best next step and whether medical testing through insurance is appropriate.

My HeartCheck’s medical review team is made up of pediatric cardiologists who review each test and produce formal written reports.

These cardiologists specialize in congenital and genetic heart conditions, are board-certified, and have a special interest in cardiac sports medicine.

My HeartCheck will email a detailed report to the email address used to register your child. Results are typically emailed within 7 to 14 days of the test date.

The email is sent from reports@myheartcheck.org.

If any potential concerns are identified, you will receive a phone call with instructions regarding follow-up with your personal physician.

We are happy to provide the same detailed report you receive to your child’s physician.

All you need to do is include your child’s doctor’s name on the Health & Family History form in the space provided.