If you have Medicare Part B, you're entitled to a free Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) every 12 months, no copay, no deductible. Most patients never use it because nobody explained what it is. Here's the short version.
An AWV is not a physical
This is the most common misunderstanding. An Annual Wellness Visit is a prevention planning visit. Your provider reviews your health history, screens for cognitive issues and fall risk, updates your preventive care schedule, and builds a personalized prevention plan. A traditional "head-to-toe physical" is a separate visit that Medicare generally doesn't cover.
What's actually included
- Review of your medical and family history
- List of all your current providers and medications
- Height, weight, blood pressure, and BMI
- Cognitive screening for early dementia signs
- Depression screening
- Fall risk and home safety review
- Personalized prevention plan with screenings and vaccines you're due for
- Advance care planning conversation, if you want one
Welcome to Medicare vs. Annual Wellness
In your first 12 months of Part B, you can get a one-time Welcome to Medicare visit. After that, you get the AWV every 12 months. Both are free as long as the provider accepts assignment.
How to make the visit useful
- Bring all current medication bottles, including supplements
- Bring a list of your other specialists
- Write down your top 2–3 health questions ahead of time
- Ask which screenings you're due for, colonoscopy, mammogram, DEXA, AAA, etc.
- Ask about the new RSV and updated pneumonia vaccines
Want to schedule yours?
We serve Medicare-eligible patients across Henderson and Las Vegas. Medicare enrollment for our practice is in progress, until it is active, Annual Wellness Visits are offered at our published cash-pay rate. Request a call back and we'll get you on the schedule.