Annual wellness visits are not mandatory, but they’re often beneficial. This time is used to discuss your overall health and determine what preventive actions you can take to reduce your risk of disease and disability.

Healthcare professionals often recommend annual wellness visits to create or update your personalized care plan for overall health and well-being.

A wellness visit is an evaluation of your overall health, not a physical examination or a follow-up appointment for chronic condition management.

Your healthcare team will likely ask you to complete a “health risk assessment” before your wellness visit so that you can discuss your medical and family history during your appointment.

They may also ask you to complete an optional “social determinants of health risk assessment” to better understand the nonmedical factors — such as your living environment — that affect your overall wellness.

In addition to discussing the results of these questionnaires, your healthcare professional may:

  • check your height, weight, blood pressure, and breathing
  • review all over-the-counter and prescription medications, vitamins, and supplements you take
  • discuss alcohol, nicotine, and other substance use
  • assess your mental and emotional health, including screening for depression and anxiety
  • check for any changes in your vision, memory, and mobility, including screening for cognitive impairment
  • determine whether you’re due for any lab tests or vaccinations
  • provide referrals for any recommended preventive services
  • offer information about advance care planning
How much does it cost?

Part B covers one wellness visit per year at no out-of-pocket cost if you make an appointment with a healthcare professional who accepts Medicare assignment.

Each wellness visit must be at least 11 full months after the previous visit.

There are three types of health and wellness appointments:

  • annual wellness visit (AVS)
  • initial preventive physical exam, or “Welcome to Medicare” visit
  • routine physical exam

Medicare covers a one-time “Welcome” visit during the first year of enrollment. This visit includes a comprehensive review of your medical and social history.

You and your healthcare professional can use this time to develop a schedule for preventive screenings, vaccinations, and other services.

Whether you choose to schedule a “Welcome” visit determines how soon you can schedule an AVS.

You can’t schedule a “Welcome” visit and an AVS in the same calendar year. These appointments must be at least 11 full months apart.

If you don’t schedule a “Welcome” visit, you can schedule an AVS after 12 months of Part B enrollment.

A routine physical exam is a head-to-toe evaluation of your vitals and overall functioning.

Original Medicare does not cover routine physicals, so you are responsible for 100% of the cost. Medicare Advantage may offer coverage, but this varies from plan to plan.

You are not required to receive an annual wellness exam, and declining to schedule this visit will not affect your Medicare eligibility or coverage.

However, preventive care and health maintenance are crucial to healthy aging. Annual wellness visits can be a helpful aspect of your overall medical care.