Schedule your annual Medicare wellness exam today. It's free!

Posted January 14, 2022 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG | Chief Medical Office

Yearly wellness exams are an especially important tool to be proactive about your health. During these visits, you can discuss preventive care with your primary care provider, ask questions about current medications, address your health concerns and more. 

With Medicare, these annual wellness exams are a free health benefit. It’s a great opportunity to ensure you’re on the right track toward living a healthy and active life.

If you have Medicare Part B for longer than 12 months, you’re eligible for a wellness exam once every 12 months to help prevent disease and disability based on your current health and risk factors. As long as your provider accepts Medicare there is no cost to you. However, if your primary care provider performs additional tests or services, you may owe a coinsurance or copayment. Ensure you understand all tests and services ordered and your responsibility financially. Be aware, however, it is not the same as a routine physical exam, which is not covered by Medicare.

The purpose of the wellness exam is to develop or update a personalized prevention plan.

As part of the visit, your provider will ask you to fill out a Health Risk Assessment questionnaire to evaluate your current health status, psychosocial risks, (depression, fatigue or pain), behavioral health (activity level, diet, smoking) and your ability to perform daily living tasks.

Your visit also may include:

• A review of your medical and family history to determine risk factors
• Updating a list of current providers and prescription medicines
• Taking routine vitals, such as height, weight and blood pressure
• A mental health assessment for signs of anxiety or depression
• A cognitive impairment assessment for signs of dementia, including Alzheimer’s
• A screening schedule for preventive services, such as vaccinations, cancer screenings and more

Note: If cognitive impairment is suspected, Medicare will cover a separate visit for a more thorough exam of your cognitive function.

Preparing for your visit

It’s important to prepare for your annual wellness exam so your provider has a clear picture of your overall health and can better determine next steps.

• Write down all your medication and doses, including both prescription and non-prescription medicine, vitamins and supplements

• Jot down or obtain a copy of your family medical history
• Compile a list of all the health-care providers you see
• Write down questions or concerns about your current health
• Bring a notepad to take notes on important information and advice

Don’t delay in scheduling your Medicare annual wellness exam. It’s an important step in staying healthy and living a longer life.

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