Is It Time for Your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
Mid-year is a smart time to check in on your health, especially if you have Medicare. A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly visit that helps you and your health care provider build or update a personal prevention plan. This visit is covered once every 12 months under Medicare Part B when your provider accepts Medicare assignment. It is important to know that this visit is not the same as a full physical exam. Instead, it is focused on prevention, planning, and helping you stay as healthy as possible.
During the visit, your provider will usually ask you to complete a Health Risk Assessment. This is a questionnaire about your health, daily habits, safety, and risks. Your provider may check routine measurements such as your height, weight, and blood pressure. He or she will review your medical and family history, current prescriptions, and any vitamins or supplements you take. There may also be discussion about your mood, memory, fall risk, physical activity, nutrition, tobacco or alcohol use, and your ability to manage daily tasks.
“One of the most valuable parts of the wellness visit is the written prevention plan,” note Dr. Derek Williams. “It will list the screenings, vaccines and other preventive services that are right for you based on your age, health history, and risk factors.” Your provider may recommend screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, certain cancers, depression, osteoporosis or other concerns. They may also review vaccines such as flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, shingles, tetanus or other shots you may need.
“Screenings matter because many health problems do not cause symptoms at first,” states Dr. Williams. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says routine preventive care can help people stay well and find problems early, when they may be easier to treat. The CDC also notes that regular cancer screening can find breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers early, when treatment is more likely to work best.
To get the most from your Annual Wellness Visit, bring a list of your medicines, your doctors, your medical equipment, and any questions you have. Dr. Williams adds, “Be honest about changes in your health, mood, memory, balance, eating, sleep, or activity level.” If you have a new symptom or a specific medical problem, ask whether you need a separate appointment for a more in-depth discussion.
Even if you feel fine, your Annual Wellness Visit can help you stay on track. It gives you time to understand your risks and make a simple plan for the year ahead. If it has been more than 12 months since your last visit, call your provider’s office and ask to schedule your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.