If you have Medicare Part B, you may be eligible for a yearly benefit many people never use: the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. For seniors in Union City, Jersey City, and throughout Hudson County, this visit is a helpful way to plan ahead, stay on top of preventive care, and make sure your doctor understands what matters most to you. Here is a simple guide.
What Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
The Annual Wellness Visit (often shortened to “AWV”) is a yearly appointment focused on prevention and planning. According to Medicare.gov, it is used to develop or update a personalized prevention plan based on your current health and risk factors. Medicare states that if you have had Part B for longer than 12 months, you can get this visit once every 12 months, and you pay nothing for it if your provider accepts assignment.
In your first 12 months on Part B, Medicare covers a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit instead.
How Is It Different from a Physical?
This is the most common point of confusion. The Annual Wellness Visit is not the same as a head-to-toe physical exam. Medicare notes that the yearly wellness visit is not a physical. It is more of a planning conversation. If you discuss or get treatment for a new or existing problem during the same day, or if additional tests are ordered, Medicare says you may have to pay coinsurance, and the Part B deductible may apply. Knowing this ahead of time helps avoid surprises.
What Usually Happens During the Visit
Medicare.gov describes several parts of the visit, which may include:
- A health risk assessment questionnaire you fill out
- A review of your medical and family history
- An updated list of your current providers and prescriptions
- Height, weight, blood pressure, and other routine measurements
- A screening for cognitive impairment
- Personalized health advice
- A list of risk factors and treatment options for you
- A screening schedule (checklist) for appropriate preventive services
- Advance care planning, if you choose
Your doctor may also review your risk for falls, your mood, and your ability to handle everyday activities safely.
How to Prepare
Bringing the right information makes the visit more useful:
- Your Medicare card and any supplemental or Medicare Advantage card
- All of your medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements (bringing the bottles is fine)
- Names of your other doctors and specialists
- Your family health history, as best you know it
- Your vaccination records, if you have them
- Questions about your health, memory, or planning for the future
Many families find it helpful to have a trusted relative or caregiver come along, especially to help take notes.
Why It Is Worth Your Time
As we get older, it is easy for care to become scattered across several specialists and pharmacies. The Annual Wellness Visit creates one moment each year to bring everything together: medications, screenings, vaccines, and your goals. It is also a good opportunity to talk about advance care planning, so your wishes are known and respected.
Annual Wellness Visits in Union City and Jersey City
Advanced Medical Care of Hudson County offers Medicare Annual Wellness Visits with Dr. Nivin Elias, MD and Dr. Sameh Elias, MD at our Union City and Jersey City offices. Our team can help you understand what your Medicare plan covers and schedule a visit that works for you. Medicare Advantage plans may have their own rules, so we encourage you to confirm benefits with your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit free?
Medicare states you pay nothing for the Annual Wellness Visit if your provider accepts assignment. Additional services or tests on the same day may involve costs.
How often can I have an Annual Wellness Visit?
Once every 12 months, after you have had Part B for more than 12 months, according to Medicare.gov.
Will my doctor do a full physical exam?
Not as part of the wellness visit itself. If you also need an exam or treatment for a health problem, ask our team how that may be scheduled and billed.
Book Your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit
Call Advanced Medical Care of Hudson County at (201) 863-5696 or book online to schedule your visit in Union City or Jersey City.
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Coverage details can change; confirm your benefits with Medicare or your plan.
Sources:
Medicare.gov, Yearly “Wellness” visits: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/yearly-wellness-visits
Medicare.gov, “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit
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