We want to keep you healthy, out of the hospital, and doing what you enjoy. Taking advantage of the Medicare-covered preventive visits is a smart way to remain well. The Welcome to Medicare Visit and the Annual Wellness Visit (also known as an AWV) is not the same as a standard medical exam, and they come with additional Medicare benefits and coverage.
Welcome to Medicare Visit is a Medicare-covered preventive visit
Within the first 12 months after enrolling in Medicare Part B, you are eligible for a Welcome to Medicare visit, as the name implies. When you visit in-network providers, like your designated primary care provider, Medicare Advantage plans cover the same preventive services as Original Medicare.
Your doctor will do the following during this initial visit:
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Conduct a short vision test
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Examine the risk of depression and other mental health issues.
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Talk about disease prevention, fitness, and wellness.
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Take a look at your current prescriptions, as well as your health and medical records.
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Take measurements of your height, weight, and blood pressure.
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Calculate your BMI (body mass index)
Following the evaluation, the doctor will provide you with a customized treatment plan that includes screenings, immunizations, and other preventive services. Any treatments or screenings not covered by Medicare may be paid separately, so additional health conditions can necessitate a separate follow-up appointment.
Following your initial Welcome Visit, you'll begin having Annual Wellness Visits to discuss your medical problems, how to treat them, and how to avoid complications. If you have been enrolled in Medicare Part B for more than 12 months, you are eligible for an Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) every 12 months.
What to bring with you to each appointment:
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A list of your prescriptions and Over the counter drugs, as well as supplements
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Outside providers' medical and immunization records
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Medical history of the family
Annual Wellness Visit is not the same as a “Head-to-Toe” Physical Exam
Your vital signs, pulse, lungs, head, neck, belly, reflexes, and skin are all checked during an annual physical. A wellness visit is a ‘hands-off' visit that focuses on your health history, risk factors, age-appropriate screenings, and disease management and self-care education.
Your doctor will do the following during this visit:
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Take measurements of your height, weight, and blood pressure.
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Review your personal health-care package, and what Medicare-covered health-screenings are included.
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Keep your medical records up to date, with a list of your physicians and prescriptions.
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Talk about disease prevention, fitness, and wellness.
Aside from the AWV, Medicare recipients have access to a range of free preventive care programs, including cardiovascular disease scans, prostate cancer screenings, and mammograms.
Also Read: Surprising Things Your Medicare Insurance Can Cover
Schedule your AWV appointment
Insurance coverage depends on the timing and scope of the contract. Although Medicare does not cover annual physicals, most Medicare Advantage Plans do cover both standard annual physicals and wellness visits. To maintain insurance coverage, schedule your AWVs one full year (365 days) apart for patients with Original Medicare Part B, with or without a supplement plan. Schedule one AWV every calendar year for patients on a Medicare Advantage plan to guarantee coverage (January-December). Some plans may have exceptions.
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