Take Charge of Your Health With Your Annual Wellness Visit
As a Medicare Advantage member, your Annual Wellness Visit is an important part of staying healthy.
It's a great opportunity to talk with your doctor one-on-one and track your health changes from year to year.
Watch our Annual Wellness Visit video to learn more about it, including how to prepare and what to expect.
What Is the Annual Wellness Visit?
Your Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly appointment you have with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) to talk about your general health and well-being. You do not need to undress for this appointment. It’s covered by your plan, so there's no cost to you.
The main purpose of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is prevention. It plays an important role in helping to lower your risk for common preventable health problems like heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. You leave your visit with a personalized prevention plan that lays out the tests and exams you need to stay on top of your care.
What Happens During My Annual Wellness Visit?
During your wellness visit, your doctor will take the time to discuss your whole health, including your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Your doctor will also:
- Take your height, weight and blood pressure
- Review your medical history
- Go over your current medications to see what's working and what's not
- Review your health to-dos, like diabetes and high blood pressure screenings
- Help coordinate care with your specialists or other doctors
- Discuss your medical care wishes in case of an emergency
- Create a Personalized Prevention Plan that gives next steps for your health
- Make sure you complete your Health Risk Assessment
Why Should I Go to My Annual Wellness Visit Every Year?
Early detection helps prevent problems later.
During the visit, your doctor will learn about your current health and well-being, like if you have issues with balance, hearing, eyesight or memory. This helps your doctor know what to keep an eye on going forward and recommend additional tests or exams if you need them.
Know your health risks to avoid health problems.
Your wellness visit includes a Health Risk Assessment. This is a form with questions about your current health and lifestyle that you fill out and go over with your doctor. Your answers help your doctor find any risks and work with you to reduce them, potentially preventing future health issues.
Shared information helps your doctors, specialists, and health plan serve your needs.
Your doctor will make sure your medical record is accurate and up to date. Together, you'll review your current health conditions, medications and other specialists you see. All the information from your wellness visit is recorded and available to all your doctors and specialists, so your care can be coordinated across all visits.
Your answers also enable your health plan to offer personalized assistance, resources and guidance to enhance your overall well-being.
How Do I Schedule My Annual Wellness Visit?
Call your doctor's office to set up an appointment. Make sure to mention that you want the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, not an Annual Physical or another yearly exam.
Is This the Same As My Annual Physical?
The Annual Wellness Visit is not the same as your Annual Physical Exam. An Annual Physical usually includes a full physical exam, bloodwork, screenings and other tests. It's also when you should discuss any new or ongoing medical problems that may need treatment with your doctor.
On the other hand, your Annual Wellness Visit helps your doctor understand what is or isn’t working for you and how to best support your continued health and well-being.
The following chart outlines the main differences between an Annual Wellness Visit and Annual Physical:
How Do I Prepare for My Annual Wellness Visit?
Get the most out of your visit by making sure you’re prepared. When you go to your Annual Wellness Visit, you should bring:
- Your Member ID card
Note: If you're dually enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, you should bring both Medicare and Medicaid Member ID cards with you to your appointment. - A list of your medications, including over-the-counter medicines, like pain relievers, allergy medication, sleep aids, vitamins or supplements.
- A list of all the healthcare providers and specialists you see, like your eye doctor, physical therapist, cardiologist (heart doctor), or chiropractor
- You should also bring a list of questions for your doctor, like:
- What tests do I need? Am I overdue for any tests?
- How do I get the results of my tests and screenings?
- Are there any changes I should make to my medications?
- Does my family medical history put me at risk for certain conditions?
- When should I schedule my next appointment with you?
*Some fully integrated dual plans use a single ID card for both Medicare and Medicaid.
Remember, the Annual Wellness Visit is about investing in your health and well-being. Your health matters. Taking the time for this appointment can lead to a healthier, happier you.
Additional Questions?
Call Member Services at the phone number on your Member ID Card. TTY users dial 711. From April 1 - September 30, we're here Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm. From October 1 - March 31, we're here every day from 8 am to 8 pm.
