Your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, Explained
Medicare covers a yearly "Wellness" visit at no cost to you — but many people skip it because they mix it up with a physical exam, or don't realize it's free. Here's what it actually includes.
What it is (and isn't)
The Annual Wellness Visit is a conversation-based visit to build or update a personalized prevention plan based on your current health and risk factors. It is not a routine physical exam — your provider generally won't do a hands-on exam beyond basic measurements. If you have a specific health concern, it's better to schedule a separate appointment so that conversation doesn't get folded into (and potentially charged alongside) your free preventive visit.
What happens during the visit
You'll fill out a "Health Risk Assessment" questionnaire, and your provider will typically:
- Take routine measurements — height, weight, blood pressure
- Review your medical and family history, and your current prescriptions
- Perform a cognitive assessment, screening for signs of dementia or other cognitive impairment
- Evaluate risk factors for substance use disorder, with a referral if needed
- Offer to discuss advance directives — legal documents recording your future care wishes
- Give you a written plan listing which screenings, vaccines, and preventive services you need
- Order other tests if your general health and history call for them
What you pay
You pay nothing if your provider accepts assignment — the Part B deductible doesn't apply to this visit. If your provider performs additional tests or services during the same visit that fall outside this preventive benefit, you may owe coinsurance, and the deductible may apply to those extra items. Ask ahead of time if you're unsure whether something will be billed separately.
When you're eligible
Your first yearly Wellness visit can't happen within 12 months of enrolling in Part B or of your one-time "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. You don't need to have had the Welcome to Medicare visit first — you can go straight to the yearly Wellness visit once you're past that 12-month mark. After that, you're eligible for one every 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Annual Wellness Visit cost?
You pay nothing if your provider accepts assignment — the Part B deductible doesn't apply. If your provider does additional tests or services during the same visit that aren't part of this preventive benefit, you may owe coinsurance or the deductible for those extras.
Is the Annual Wellness Visit the same as a physical exam?
No. It's a conversation-based visit focused on prevention planning — reviewing your health history, medications, and risk factors, and updating a prevention plan. It is not a hands-on routine physical exam. If you have a specific health concern, schedule a separate appointment for that.
When can I get my first Annual Wellness Visit?
It can't happen within 12 months of your Part B enrollment or your one-time "Welcome to Medicare" preventive visit. You don't need to have had the Welcome to Medicare visit to qualify for the yearly Wellness visit.
How often can I get this visit?
Once every 12 months, if your provider accepts assignment for it.
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Source: Medicare.gov, "Yearly 'Wellness' visits" coverage page. This is directory and program information, not medical or insurance advice. Last reviewed August 2026.