Senior Wellness
Medicare Annual Wellness Visit
Did you know you can do a FREE Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) through Medicare?
What it is
The Annual Wellness Visit is a preventive benefit covered by Medicare Part B. It’s not a physical exam. It’s a health risk assessment and personalized prevention plan visit. Many people confuse it with a traditional physical, but it’s focused on planning and prevention rather than diagnosing or treating illness.
Who qualifies
You must be enrolled in Medicare Part B and have had Part B for at least 12 months. It also must have been at least 12 months since your last Annual Wellness Visit (or since your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit, if that was your first one).
Cost to you
There is no cost (no copay, no coinsurance, and no deductible) as long as your doctor accepts Medicare assignment. However, if your doctor addresses or treats a separate health concern, or does extra tests, during the same visit, you may be billed separately for that portion.
What’s included
The visit typically covers the following:
- A health risk assessment (questionnaire about your health history, lifestyle, and functional ability)
- Review of your medical and family history
- Current medications and supplements review
- Measurement of height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, and other routine measurements
- Cognitive impairment detection (screening for signs of dementia or memory issues)
- Depression risk screening
- Assessment of your functional ability and level of safety (risk of falls, hearing, home safety, and daily activities)
- Review of potential risk factors for chronic disease
- A written personalized prevention plan, including recommended screenings, vaccinations, and referrals
What’s NOT included
Because it’s a wellness visit, not a physical, the following are generally not covered as part of this visit:
- Hands-on physical examination (listening to heart/lungs, abdominal palpation, etc.)
- Blood work or lab tests (these must be ordered separately)
- Treatment or management of existing chronic conditions (billed separately if done)
How to schedule it
Simply call your primary care doctor’s office and ask to schedule your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. Be sure to use that exact terminology. Medicare doesn’t cover routine physical exams, so asking for a “physical” may result in a different type of visit that you’d be billed for.
Additional preventive services
During your AWV, your doctor may also refer you to or recommend other Medicare preventive services, many at no cost to you if you’re eligible, such as:
- Mammograms, colonoscopies, and other cancer screenings
- Diabetes screenings
- Cardiovascular disease screenings
- Flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19 vaccines
- Bone density tests
Tips
- Bring a list of all medications, vitamins, and supplements
- Bring any records from specialists or recent hospitalizations
- Consider bringing a family member or trusted friend to help remember details
- Don’t wait until you feel sick: this visit is meant to be proactive
Medicare rules and costs can change, and Medicare Advantage plans may have different rules. To confirm what applies to you, see Medicare.gov (opens in a new tab), call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or call your plan.