Understanding Your Free Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

If you are a Medicare recipient, you are entitled to one free annual wellness visit every year. Many seniors don’t take advantage of this benefit or feel frustrated when the visit doesn’t look like a traditional doctor’s appointment. Understanding the purpose of the annual wellness visit can help you get the most out of this important preventive service.

What the visit is for

The annual wellness visit is focused on prevention and planning. It’s not designed to diagnose or treat current health issues. Instead, your care team will review your overall health, update your medical and family history, and screen for risks that may affect your future well-being. The visit may include:

• Reviewing your medications and medical history
• Updating your list of providers and specialists
• Checking vital signs like blood pressure, height, weight, and BMI
• A health risk assessment to look at lifestyle and safety risks
• Screening for memory, depression, or fall risks
• Creating or updating your personalized preventive care plan

What the visit is not

Because the annual wellness visit is preventive, it usually does not include lab work, imaging, or treatment for new or ongoing medical problems. If you need care for a specific concern, your provider may recommend scheduling a separate office visit. This can sometimes feel frustrating, but it’s because Medicare sets specific guidelines about what is included in a wellness visit versus a problem-focused appointment.

Why it matters

The annual wellness visit is your opportunity to take a step back and look at your overall health picture. By identifying risks early and planning preventive care, you and your provider can create a roadmap for staying healthy and active. Think of it as a yearly check-in that helps you stay on track, catch small issues before they become big ones, and keep your health goals front and center.

If you have Medicare and haven’t yet scheduled your annual wellness visit this year, consider making an appointment. It’s free, preventive, and a valuable way to partner with your care team in protecting your health.