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

Your visit also includes:

• A review of your medical and family history
• A screening schedule for appropriate preventive services
• Height, weight and blood pressure measurements
• Time to review your current clinicians and medications
• Time to discuss risk factors and prevention to support healthy aging

No. There are three different exams for people enrolled in Medicare:

Welcome to Medicare visit: Medicare covers a free, one-time visit within the first 12 months of joining Medicare. Your doctor will review your medical and social history and provide education and counseling about preventive services such as health screenings, immunizations and referrals for other care if needed.

Medicare Annual Wellness Visit: If you’ve had Medicare for longer than 12 months, you’re eligible for a free Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. These visits are designed to develop a comprehensive, personalized plan for improving your health and preventing disease.

Annual physical: This includes a full physical exam, such as listening to your heart or treating you for an existing condition. You will have an out-of-pocket cost, which may vary depending on your plan.

If you’ve had Medicare for longer than 12 months, you are eligible for the visit at no cost to you.

While the visit is 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.

You will see either your doctor or another licensed practitioner who is a member of your care team. The visit is meant to assess your health conditions and life factors that aid your primary care doctor in creating a proactive care plan for you that keeps you healthy. In addition to our doctors, there are specially trained nurse practitioners who are skilled at performing these assessments. If a nurse practitioner conducts the visit, please know that later—perhaps at your next visit—you will have the opportunity to talk with your doctor visit.

You can expect your doctor to discuss your health history, medications, healthcare team and immunization schedule. Other components of the visit are a questionnaire to assess your health risks (a 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. 

If you are a Sutter My Health Online user, you may receive 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.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a free benefit from Medicare. It is 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.  While there is no copay, if the appointment goes beyond the health evaluation and into an examination or treatment, you will 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.

1. All medications in their original bottles including over-the-counter medications andsupplements 
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
6. Completed Health Risk Assessment (if you did not complete it in My Health Online)

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

Or, call your doctor’s office and tell them you want to schedule your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.