Medicare Annual Wellness Visits
"Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit
Medicare Part B Medical Insurance covers a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit once
within the first 12 months you have Part B.
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay nothing for the visit if your doctor or other health care provider accepts Medicare. The
Part B deductible doesn’t apply.
What it is
This visit includes a review of your medical and social history related to your health. It also
includes education and counseling about preventive services, including these:
- Certain screenings, flu and pneumococcal shots, and referrals for other care, if needed.
- Height, weight, and blood pressure measurements.
- A calculation of your body mass index.
- A simple vision test.
- A review of your potential risk for depression and your level of safety.
- An offer to talk with you about creating advanced directive.
- A written plan letting you know which screenings, shots, and other preventive services you need.
Things to know
When you make your appointment, let your doctor’s office know you would like to schedule your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. Bring the following to your appointment:
- Medical records, including immunization records.
- Family health history.
- A list of any prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements that you currently take, how often you take them, and why.
Annual Wellness Visits
If you’ve had Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) for longer than 12 months, you can get an annual “Wellness” visit to develop or update your personalized plan to help prevent disease or disability, based on your current health and risk factors. The annual “Wellness” visit isn’t a physical exam.
Your first annual “Wellness” visit can’t take place within 12 months of your Part B enrollment or your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. However, you don’t need to have had a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit to qualify for an annual “Wellness” visit.
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay nothing for this visit if your doctor or other health care provider accepts Medicare. The Part B deductible doesn’t apply.
However, you may have to pay coinsurance, and the Part B deductible may apply if your doctor or other health care provider performs additional tests or services during the same visit that Medicare doesn’t cover under this preventive benefit.
If Medicare doesn’t cover the additional tests or services (like a routine physical exam), you may have to pay the full amount.
What it is
Your doctor or other health care provider will ask you to fill out a questionnaire, called a “Health Risk Assessment,” as part of this visit. Answering these questions can help you and your doctor develop a personalized prevention plan to help you stay healthy and get the most out of your visit. Your visit may include:
- Routine measurements (like height, weight, and blood pressure).
- A review of your medical and family history.
- A review of your current prescriptions.
- Personalized health advice.
- Advance Care Planning.
Your doctor or other health care provider will also perform a cognitive assessment to look for signs of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Signs of cognitive impairment include trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, managing finances, and making decisions about your everyday life. If your doctor or other health care provider thinks you may have cognitive impairment, Medicare covers a separate visit to do a more thorough review of your cognitive function and check for conditions like dementia, depression, anxiety, or delirium and design a care plan.
