As we get older, staying healthy becomes less about reacting to illness and more about preventing problems before they start. That’s exactly why Medicare covers an Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), a dedicated appointment focused on your overall health, future wellness goals and preventive care.
If you haven’t had an Annual Wellness Visit in the past 12 months, now is a great time to schedule one with your primary care provider.
What Is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a preventive care appointment that helps you and your provider develop or update a personalized plan for your health. Unlike a routine physical exam, this visit focuses on identifying health risks, reviewing preventive screenings and creating a roadmap to help you stay healthy and independent.
Stephanie Purvis, NP, a primary care provider at HMG Primary Care at Weber City, says the visit gives patients something many routine appointments cannot.
“An annual wellness exam is a very important visit because it is a dedicated time with your provider to discuss your overall health status, your concerns about your health, where you want to go in the future with your health, any health risks you may have and anything you want to monitor.”
She adds:
“It’s just like a health counseling session with your provider, and it’s extremely important because we catch things early that way.”
An Annual Wellness Visit is Not a Physical Exam
One of the most common misconceptions about an Annual Wellness Visit is that it’s the same as an annual physical. It isn’t.
Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit is a conversation-focused preventive care visit. You typically won’t change into a gown or undergo the type of hands-on examination associated with a traditional physical. Instead, the focus is on your health history, medications, risk factors and future health needs.
Purvis explains it this way:
“It’s not so much a one-on-one focusing on a physical complaint or a physical component, but your overall picture of what you want your health to be as you move forward.”
What To Expect During Your Visit
During your Annual Wellness Visit, your provider may:
- Review your medical and family history
- Review all prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and supplements
- Assess your risk for falls
- Discuss memory and cognitive health
- Talk about preventive screenings and vaccinations
- Review lifestyle factors such as nutrition, exercise and sleep
- Discuss advance care planning
- Create or update your personalized prevention plan
For many Medicare beneficiaries, these conversations are especially valuable.
“In the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, we talk about health safety risks in the home. Do you have fall concerns? Do you have a home that you can grow old in and be healthy in, and be safe in?” Purvis says.
She notes that the visit looks beyond a person’s medical conditions to understand the whole person.
“This visit allows you to broaden your scope and see what’s going on with the patient beyond that little 15-minute session you may have, and that’s important to help them be healthy.”
Preparing For Your Annual Wellness Visit
A little preparation can help you get the most from your appointment.
Before your visit, consider gathering:
- A complete list of your medications
- Vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter products you take
- Information about your family health history
- A list of questions or concerns
- Notes about any health changes you’ve noticed recently
Medication reviews are particularly important.
“Bring in your basket of medicine so we can review each one,” says Purvis. “Maybe you bought a supplement that you don’t know may interact with one of your prescription medicines.”
Even concerns that seem small are worth mentioning.
“Any concern, no matter how small you may think it is, helps us to develop a health care plan that we both can agree on and help you get where you want to be as you age.”
When Are You Eligible?
A common question is whether the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is based on the calendar year.
The answer is no.
Medicare covers one Annual Wellness Visit every 12 months, not once per calendar year. That means eligibility is based on when you last had the visit. If it has been at least 12 months since your previous Annual Wellness Visit, you may be eligible for another one.
Many patients mistakenly wait until January because they think the benefit resets each year. In reality, you should schedule your next visit once you meet the 12-month eligibility requirement.
Not sure when your last Medicare Annual Wellness Visit was? Call your primary care provider’s office and they can help.
A Visit That Helps You Stay Independent
The goal of an Annual Wellness Visit is not simply checking a box. It’s helping you stay active, healthy and independent for as long as possible.
The visit gives you time to discuss what matters most to you, whether that’s staying mobile, preventing falls, managing medications, improving sleep, remaining socially connected or maintaining your quality of life.
Purvis says, “It’s for the patient, and it’s something that they need to make sure that they take advantage of because it’s covered by their insurance.”
Don’t Put It Off
Many serious health issues develop gradually and may not cause symptoms right away. An Annual Wellness Visit gives you and your provider the opportunity to identify risks early and create a plan before problems become bigger challenges.
“You can ask your provider anything, and you should ask your provider anything,” Purvis says.
If you haven’t had your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit in the last 12 months, call your primary care provider today to schedule an appointment. It’s one of the easiest and most valuable steps you can take to support your health, independence and well-being for the year ahead.
Due for your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
If it has been at least 12 months since your last Annual Wellness Visit, contact your primary care provider to schedule your appointment. Medicare covers this preventive visit once every 12 months for eligible beneficiaries, helping you stay on top of your health and plan for the future.
For a list of Medicare plans Holston Medical Group participates in:
