You just turned 65, or maybe a reminder came in the mail saying it’s time for your Medicare annual wellness visit. You might wonder what it involves and if you really need it. The short answer is yes. It’s a yearly conversation with your provider that helps you catch health problems early and make wellness plans.
This guide explains what an annual wellness visit for seniors includes, why it matters after 65 and how to prepare.
What Is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
A Medicare annual wellness visit is a yearly appointment with your primary care provider. The two of you will review your overall health and create or update your personal prevention plan, which is a list of screenings, shots and healthy habits.
During regular visits, your provider discusses health problems you already have, like diabetes or high blood pressure. That may leave little time for prevention, so this yearly check-in focuses on it.
“It’s one visit per year totally dedicated to wellness and prevention,” said Dr. Christina Canfield, family medicine physician at Fisher-Titus Family Medicine-Wakeman.
Anyone with Medicare Part B can get one every 12 months. In your first year on Part B, you get a “Welcome to Medicare” visit. Your first annual wellness visit comes in your second year, with an annual follow-up after that. Medicare Advantage plans cover these visits, too.
This visit isn’t the same as a physical, which is a hands-on exam where your provider checks your body for problems. A wellness visit is more of a conversation. Your provider will check a few basics, like your weight and blood pressure, but they won’t do a full exam or run tests.
If your provider accepts assignment, meaning they take Medicare’s approved amount as full payment, you usually pay nothing for the wellness visit. Original Medicare does not pay for a yearly physical, though some Medicare Advantage plans do.
What to Expect During Your Annual Wellness Visit
- Health risk assessment: You’ll fill out a short questionnaire about your health, daily habits and how you feel, either ahead of time or when you arrive. Your answers help your provider spot risks, like falls or trouble sleeping.
- Medical and family history review: Your provider will go over past illnesses, surgeries and health problems that run in your family. They will also ask about your medications and get the names of all the specialists you see.
- Basic measurements: Your provider will check your height, weight, blood pressure and possibly your body mass index (BMI). Tracking those numbers each year makes it easier to spot changes.
- Memory, mood and safety screenings: Your care team will ask simple questions to check your memory and thinking. They’ll also screen you for depression, anxiety and alcohol use, and ask about your risk of falling and home safety.
- Personal prevention plan: To wrap up, you and your provider will map out the screenings and shots you need over the next five to 10 years. That may include tips for eating well, staying active or quitting smoking. You can also talk about advance care planning and share your wishes for future medical care.
At Fisher-Titus, a population health nurse leads most of the visit. These nurses are LPNs or RNs who specialize in annual wellness visits. Your doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant reviews the results afterward.
“I just like to clarify for patients that we’re very involved, even if you don’t see our face during that part of the visit,” Dr. Canfield said.
Why You Need an Annual Wellness Visit After 65
Health can change quickly after 65, and small changes in your memory, balance or blood pressure are easy to miss. An annual review lets your provider catch changes early so they’re easier to treat. It also keeps your vaccines up to date.
Even if you feel well, it’s important to establish a baseline for your health. Each year, your care team can compare your results to those from the previous year.
“If a dementia score is coming down this year versus last year, we can intervene more quickly,” Dr. Canfield said.
The visit also keeps your cancer screenings on track. Dr. Canfield has seen patients agree to screenings they were hesitant about, like an at-home colon cancer test. For some, the results led doctors to find and remove growths called polyps before they could turn into cancer. For others, screening caught cancer early, while it was still treatable. Mammograms also often catch problems early.
“Patients will come back later and thank the nurse and the doctor for finding it,” she said.
Regular care supports independence, too. Your provider can spot risks that make it harder to live on your own, like a higher chance of falling. Programs like Ready to Be Steady at Fisher-Titus build strength and balance.
Seeing the same provider each year builds trust because they get to know you and your goals. That makes it easier to ask questions and get care that suits your lifestyle.
“When you have a good relationship with your primary care patients, they’re more likely to do what you, as their doctor, recommend,” Dr. Canfield said.
Tips for Preparing for Your Visit
- Bring all your medications: That includes pills, inhalers, insulin, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements, even if another doctor prescribed them. Your provider needs to know exactly what you’re taking so they can check for drug interactions.
- Bring your health papers: Pack your Medicare and insurance cards. Add a list of your allergies (especially new ones) and copies of tests or surgeries you’ve undergone. Include the names and phone numbers of your specialists, too.
- Bring your advance directives: Advance directives are papers that detail your wishes for future care. They include a living will, a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order and a medical power of attorney. Bring your most recent copies. If you don’t have them yet, bring your questions and your care team can help.
- Fill out your forms: Your care team may send forms ahead of time by mail or through an app. If the forms are confusing, ask a family member or friend to help.
- Write down your questions: It’s easy to forget them once you’re in the exam room. You might ask: Which screenings are due this year? Are my medications still right for me? What can I do to lower my risk of falling?
- Learn your family history: Ask your relatives about health problems that run in the family, like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Share what you learn with your provider.
- Bring a loved one or caregiver: A family member or friend can take notes and help you remember what was said. They can also share changes they’ve noticed in your memory or mood. If they cannot be there in person, you can call them on speakerphone.
- Check the date of your last visit: Medicare covers one wellness appointment every 12 months, so check when you had your last one before you schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions About Annual Wellness Visits
What is an annual wellness visit?
It is a yearly Medicare visit where your provider reviews your health and makes a plan to help you prevent illness.
Is an annual wellness visit the same as a physical?
No. A physical is a full hands-on exam, while a wellness visit focuses on planning and prevention.
How often can I get a Medicare annual wellness visit?
Medicare covers it once every 12 months.
Does a senior annual wellness visit cost anything?
The wellness visit itself should not cost anything. If you see your doctor that same day for other health problems, you may owe a copay or deductible for those separate services. If you get a bill for the wellness portion, contact your doctor’s office.
Does Medicare get all my personal information?
To pay for your visit, Medicare receives the type of visit you had and a list of your health conditions. Your care team may also send some basic information about the quality of care you received. Personal details you share, like family news, are not sent to Medicare.
Can I have my annual wellness visit by video?
Yes. Ask your provider’s office about scheduling a telehealth visit.
Hands-On Healthcare for All Ages at Fisher-Titus
Fisher-Titus cares for patients of all ages, including seniors. We’ll help you understand which screenings you need and connect you with other services, such as mammograms, heart care, fall prevention and home health care.
Your wellness visit is easy to fit into your schedule. Pair it with another same-day appointment to save a trip. If it’s hard to leave home, you may be able to meet by video while a Fisher-Titus community paramedic visits to help with the call and check your vital signs.
“We have wonderful population health nurses who are very caring,” Dr. Canfield said. “It’s very important to get patients in for these visits and focus on these things.”
Contact a Fisher-Titus primary care location near you to schedule your annual wellness visit today.