The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit: What It Is and What to Expect

Who is eligible for the Annual Wellness Visit?

You are eligible if you are enrolled in Medicare Part B and have had Part B for more than 12 months. The visit can be done once every 12 months, and you do not need to have had a Welcome to Medicare visit first. If you have not had an AWV in the past year, you may be due for one.

• Must be enrolled in Medicare Part B.
• Must have had Part B for more than 12 months.
• Covered once every 12 months.
• No Welcome to Medicare visit required first.

What does the visit include?

The AWV is built around creating or updating a personalized prevention plan. Your provider reviews your medical and family history, your current providers and prescriptions, and your health risk assessment, and measures your height, weight, body mass index, and blood pressure. The visit also includes a cognitive impairment screening, a depression and safety screen, a check of your functional ability, and a written schedule of the screenings and preventive services you need.

How is it different from a physical exam?

The Annual Wellness Visit is a planning and prevention visit, not a physical exam. It does not include a full head-to-toe examination, and routine lab work is not part of it. If you need a physical exam, lab tests, or treatment for a specific problem, those are separate services that may be billed separately. This is a useful distinction to understand before your appointment, and your provider can explain what your visit will include.

What should you bring?

Bring your Medicare card and a photo ID, a current list of all medications, vitamins, and supplements, and any questions about your health. If you have records from other providers, bringing them helps your provider build a complete picture. You can also bring a family member or caregiver to help you remember and discuss the plan.

How does this fit into care at TruHealth?

TruHealth Primary Care accepts Medicare and provides annual wellness visits along with ongoing primary care for adults. An AWV is a great way to establish or continue care with a provider who knows your history, and it connects naturally to screenings, vaccinations, and chronic condition management. Coverage depends on your specific plan, so call the practice to confirm details before your visit.