The key to good health is prevention and if you’re enrolled in Medicare
Part B, you may be eligible for annual wellness services. Medicare Part
B offers two kinds of visits to help keep you healthy and catch serious
medical issues early:
Welcome to Medicare preventive visit – a one-time visit within the
first 12 months of enrollment
Annual Wellness Visits – once a year preventive visit
These wellness visits do not replace specific appointments to address chronic
medical conditions.
Welcome to Medicare Preventive Visit
The Welcome to Medicare preventive visit occurs within the first 12 months
you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime
visit that acts as a baseline for future wellness visits.
During your appointment, you’ll receive a physical exam and work
with your healthcare team to develop a Personalized Prevention Plan that
focuses on prevention and wellness. These plans are clear, easy to follow
and unique to you. You can also expect to:
Plan a schedule for the Medicare prevention screenings and services you’ll
need over the next 5 to 10 years
Get routine measurements like weight, height, blood pressure, vision and
body mass index (BMI)
Evaluate your personal and family medical history
Create or update a list of providers and specialists
Review medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs,
vitamins, and supplements
Learn about certain screenings, flu and pneumococcal shots, and referrals
to other care, if needed
Review your potential risk for depression and your level of safety
Talk about options to create or update an advanced directive (optional)
Annual Wellness Visits
Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) take place once a year after the first 12
months of enrollment in Medicare Part B. You do not need to have scheduled
a Welcome to Medicare visit before your AWV.
AWVs are like a check in with your healthcare team – you’ll
have the chance to review your health conditions, ask questions about
medications, and talk about diet or lifestyle changes. These visits do
not include a physical exam.
During your appointment, you’ll work with your healthcare team to
create or update a Personalized Prevention Plan. You can also expect to:
Review your personal and family medical history
Get routine measurements like weight, height, blood pressure and BMI
Create or update a list of current providers and specialists
Review medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs,
vitamins, and supplements
Talk about feelings of stress, anxiety and depression
Answer questions about your lifestyle, daily routine and memory
Create or update a preventive care schedule
Develop a list of risk factors and treatment options
Review and update immunizations
Talk about options to create or update an advanced directive (optional)
The Welcome to Medicare Visit and AWV are covered by Medicare Part B. However,
if additional tests or services are provided at this visit that are not
covered by Medicare’s preventive benefit, you may be subject to
the Part B deductible, co-insurance and/or co-pays.
To schedule your Welcome to Medicare Visit or Annual Wellness Visit, call
your primary care provider’s office.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring to my Welcome to Medicare Visit or Annual Wellness Visit?
The more information you can share with your healthcare team, the more
complete the overall picture of your health will be. Please bring:
Names of your providers and specialists (i.e. eye doctor, cardiologist)
and a list of any new problems that have been identified since your last
visit to update your records
Medical records (if you received care outside of Sauk Prairie Healthcare),
including immunization records
Family health history
Your medications in their original bottles, including any prescription
and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements
A medical power of attorney or living will (if you have them)
Insurance cards
What do I pay for my wellness visits?
There is no out-of-pocket cost for the Welcome to Medicare visit and AWVs.
However, if additional tests or services are provided that Medicare’s
preventive benefit does not cover, you may be subject to the Part B deductible,
co-insurance and/or co-pays.
For specific questions, please contact our Billing department at 608-643-7190.
Does Medicare Part B pay for an annual physical exam?
No, Medicare Part B does not pay for an annual physical exam. Medicare
Part B does pay for a one-time Welcome to Medicare preventive visit (which
includes a physical exam) and an AWV (which does not include a physical exam).
