The Medicare Annual Wellness is an annual appointment with your care provider to develop a prevention and screening plan based on your age, gender, and medical conditions.
The purpose of this visit is to give you the opportunity to discuss your current health status with your physician, to help assess any potential health risks and ways to prevent them through screening and early intervention.
Your insurance will cover this visit and you don't have to pay out of your pocket.
The Annual Wellness Visit includes:
According to the CDC, around half of all adults suffer from at least one chronic illness that could have been avoided. Medicare Annual Wellness ensures that the patient has the opportunity to discuss his/her health with their care provider and take preventive measures to remain on a right track to optimal health.
|
Medicare Annual Wellness |
Category |
Annual Physical |
|
Holistic health risk assessment |
Assessment |
General physical assessment |
|
one on one detailed discussion |
Duration |
Brief discussion 10 -20 mins |
|
Assessments plus additional screenings if necessary |
Scope |
Routine measurement Height weight, BMI |
|
Personalized preventive plan |
Personalization |
No personalized prevention plan |
|
Covered by Medicare |
Insurance |
Covered by private payer |
|
Telehealth platforms |
Method |
In-person only |
|
Risk identification and prevention |
Objective |
Identify physical issues |
Any Medicare beneficiary who:
has been a beneficiary of Medicare Part B for at least 12 months, and
has not had a preventive physical examination in the last 12 months
Your Annual Wellness Visit will be covered by Medicare in full, so there will be no cost to you. Some screening services and follow-up visits may include some out of pocket
During the visit, the Physician will assess you for health problems that usually affect older adults. Assessing and addressing these issues will help you reduce your risk and improve your quality of life. Your care provider may conduct a screening for:
With all the information gathered during the visit, your physician will update your preventive health plan, screening schedule, or preventative measures procedures checklist. They may also recommend important health education or counseling programs, such as weight loss, fall prevention, tobacco cessation, or physical activity.
Whilst following wellness visits may not be as thorough as the first, your doctor will still examine important health indicators such as weight, blood pressure, and cognitive function, and will update your information and health plan as needed. You should bring your
