If you are covered by Medicare, you are eligible for a “Welcome to Medicare” visit during the first 12 months you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. You can then schedule a Wellness Visit once a year (every 12 months). These visits are not subject to copayments or deductibles, so there is no cost to the individual. The Annual Medicare Wellness Visit allows you to discuss ways to improve your health and prevent diseases. The annual Wellness Visit is not the same as an annual physical exam, but it does provide patients with the same opportunity to talk with their provider about health concerns and to develop a plan to focus on health, rather than illness. You will not receive blood tests during this visit and we will not listen to your heart and lungs or check other parts of your body during this visit.
Some of the services covered during an Annual Wellness Visit include: routine measurements such as weight, height and blood pressure; review of your individual family medical history, review of your current medications, discussion of the care you receive from other providers, and review of your functional ability and level of safety. Based on this review, you and your provider will develop a plan based on your specific needs.
