---
title: "Medicare Wellness Visits at Sutter Health"
description: "Learn about the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, what to expect, how to schedule it and how it supports your long-term health at no extra cost to you."
url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits"
---

1.  [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) /
2.  [Billing and insurance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance) /
3.  [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare) /
4.  Medicare wellness visits

![older-patient-laughing-with-doctor](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/medical-doctors/older-patient-laughing-with-doctor3.jpg?h=2959&iar=0&w=5000)

# Medicare wellness visits

You deserve quality time with your primary doctor.

[Compare Medicare plans](https://www.ehealth.com/Sutterwebsite)

![older-patient-laughing-with-doctor](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/medical-doctors/older-patient-laughing-with-doctor3.jpg?h=2959&iar=0&w=5000)

**Section menu**

-   [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare "Medicare")
    -   [Annual Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/aep "Annual Enrollment Period")
        
    -   [Medicare basics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-basics "Medicare basics")
        
    -   [Medicare wellness visits](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits "Medicare wellness visits")
        
    -   [Special Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/sep "Special Enrollment Period")
        
    -   [Initial Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/iep "Initial Enrollment Period")
        
    -   [Late enrollment penalties](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/late-enrollment-penalties "Late enrollment penalties")
        

-   [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare "Medicare")
    -   [Annual Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/aep "Annual Enrollment Period")
        
    -   [Medicare basics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-basics "Medicare basics")
        
    -   [Medicare wellness visits](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits "Medicare wellness visits")
        
    -   [Special Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/sep "Special Enrollment Period")
        
    -   [Initial Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/iep "Initial Enrollment Period")
        
    -   [Late enrollment penalties](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/late-enrollment-penalties "Late enrollment penalties")
        

## Scheduling made easy

Call your doctor’s office to book your Medicare Annual Wellness visit or:

### Call to schedule

Speak with a Sutter representative at \[1-800- [4SUTTER (1-800-478-8837)](tel:+18004788837)\] \[Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm\], to book your appointment.

### Book online

Sign in to your [My Health Online](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online) account. See our [FAQs](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits) to learn how to schedule your appointment.

Frequently asked questions

**What is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?**

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

**How do I schedule my Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?**

Scheduling your appointment is easy: 

Sign into your [My Health Online](https://myhealthonline.sutterhealth.org/mho/Authentication/Login?) 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)](tel:+8004788837) Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

**Are Medicare Annual Wellness Visits mandatory?**

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.

**Is this the same as a routine physical?**

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. 

**Will I see my doctor during this visit?**

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.

**What should I expect during the visit?**

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.

**What should I bring with me to the appointment?**

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)

**Is there a cost?**

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.

**How do I complete the Health Risk Assessment?**

If you’re a Sutter [My Health Online](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/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)](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Files/billing-insurance/SMD-23-004_Medicare_Annual_Wellness_Questionnaire.pdf) [Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Questionnaire – Spanish (PDF)](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Files/billing-insurance/SMD-23-004_Medicare_Annual_Wellness_Questionnaire_SP.pdf) to bring to your appointment.

## Explore Medicare plan options 

Sutter works with eHealth, a licensed insurance agency, to help you find the right plan for you.

[Compare plans](https://www.ehealth.com/Sutterwebsite)

This is not an advertisement on behalf of any Medicare plan or plans. For information about Medicare, visit [medicare.gov](https://medicare.gov/ "medicare.gov") or call [1-800- MEDICARE](tel:+1-8774862048) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY Users should call [1-877-486-2048](tel:+1-8774862048). eHealth is an insurance agency offering plans from many insurance companies and is not affiliated with the government. Sutter Health co-hosted events are not affiliated with eHealth or the government. For accommodation of persons with special needs at events, call [1-800-478-8837](tel:+1-8004788837) (TTY 711). Enrollment in a plan may be limited to certain times of the year unless you qualify for a special enrollment period or you’re in your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period.

MMR-4521-2026

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