For your clients, their annual wellness visit is a collaboration to create a plan for their health — something that can help them proactively catch any issues at a manageable stage.
Under Medicare Part B, beneficiaries have access to free health benefits for preventative care, including the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. After they’ve had Part B for more than 12 months, your clients should be able to schedule this visit once a year.
While they may have to pay coinsurance, the Part B deductible won’t apply to this standard, non-physical exam. However, they may incur additional charges if their doctor decides to perform additional tests not covered under preventative care.
What Does an Annual Wellness Visit Include?
Medicare calls this annual visit a “personalized prevention plan,” because beneficiaries spend it assessing their health and receiving medical advice specific to their own situation.
This visit may also include:
- A health risk assessment, or a set of questions to better understand the care needed
- A review of their medical history, as well as current doctors and prescriptions
- Routine measurements, like height, weight and blood pressure
- A cognitive assessment, to discover signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease
- A screening checklist for preventative services, like vaccines or colonoscopies
- Health advice, risk factors and treatment options that would be best for them
Remember, aside from the routine measurements, the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is not a physical examination.
Scheduling the First ‘Welcome to Medicare’ Visit
If it’s your client’s first year on Medicare Part B, they’re entitled to an initial wellness visit, or the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit.
They’ll need to call their doctor to request this initial appointment, where they can receive services like:
- A vision test
- Flu and pneumococcal shots
- Referrals for other care and other services included in the Annual Wellness Visit
If they have a prescription for opioids, their doctor will review and evaluate their current treatment.
Help your clients schedule a Medicare annual wellness visit today to learn about Medicare preventive services, including screenings, shots and vaccines. Let them know they should arrive already equipped with their medical records, along with family health history and a list of medications they take.
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The above is meant to be strictly educational and not intended to provide medical advice or solicit the sales of an insurance product or service of any kind.
