Medicare wellness visits

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a health evaluation, not a physical examination. It’s intended to create or update a personalized prevention plan to help you stay healthy. This is your opportunity to spend quality time with your doctor and talk about the things that will help keep you healthy.

You and your provider may:

• Create a screening schedule for preventive services
• Discuss your medical and family history
• Get your height, weight and blood pressure measurements
• Review your current clinicians and medications
• Talk about risk factors and prevention to support healthy aging

Scheduling your appointment is easy: 

Sign into your My Health Online account and complete the following steps:

1. Select Appointments and Visits
2. Select Schedule an appointment
3. Select Schedule with a Clinician you've seen before
4. Choose your primary care provider from the list
5. Choose an Office Visit: Medicare Wellness or a Video Visit: Medicare Wellness, depending on your preference
6. Follow the prompts to complete screening questions and schedule your appointment

You can also call your doctor’s office and tell them you want to schedule your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. Or book your appointment through a Sutter representative by calling [1-800-4SUTTER (800-478-8837) Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

While it's not required, many Medicare patients benefit from connecting with their doctors either in person or virtually. It’s your annual opportunity to have dedicated one-on-one time with your doctor to talk about your health and wellness goals. Your doctor also encourages these visits to learn more about your health status and be able to detect issues earlier. The visits may help with identifying new conditions so you can benefit from early detection.

No. There are two distinct exams for people enrolled in Medicare:

1. Welcome to Medicare visit: Medicare Part B covers a one-time visit within the first 12 months of joining Medicare Part B. Your doctor may review your medical and social history. They’ll also provide education and counseling about preventive services such as health screenings, immunizations and referrals if needed.
2. Medicare Annual Wellness Visit: If you’ve had Medicare for longer than 12 months, you may be eligible for a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. These visits are designed to develop or update a personalized plan for improving your health and preventing disease. 

You’ll see either your doctor or a clinician who is a member of your care team. The visit is meant to assess your health conditions and life factors that help your primary care doctor create a proactive care plan. In addition to our doctors, many specially trained nurse practitioners are skilled at performing these assessments. If a nurse practitioner conducts the visit, please know that later — perhaps at your next visit — you’ll have the opportunity to talk with your doctor.

You can expect your doctor to discuss your health history, medications, healthcare team and immunization schedule. Visits also include a questionnaire to assess your health risks (Health Risk Assessment), a schedule of preventive care, a record of your medical conditions and a discussion about your Advanced Directive (your wishes in case of serious or terminal illness). This visit can occur at a Sutter care center, as a video visit or in your home.

1. All medications in their original bottles, including over-the-counter medications and supplements
2. Medicare card or other insurance cards
3. Photo ID
4. Documents outlining end-of life care wishes (if applicable)
5. Healthcare power of attorney documentation
6. Completed Health Risk Assessment (if you did not complete it in My Health Online)

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a fully covered benefit from Medicare. It’s meant to be a conversational visit to get to know you better and keep up with changes in your health status that can affect your care plan. 

There’s no copay for the visit. However, if the appointment goes beyond the health evaluation and into an examination or treatment, you may have a copay. For example, a copay would apply if your doctor treats a sore throat, adjusts a medication or gives you a physical exam.

If you’re a Sutter My Health Online user, you can access your Health Risk Assessment questionnaire electronically. You can also view and complete the form Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Questionnaire – English (PDF) Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Questionnaire – Spanish (PDF) to bring to your appointment.