What Is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit — and Why You Shouldn’t Skip It

If you're 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare, there’s a powerful benefit available to you each year — and it’s completely free.

It’s called the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), and it’s your yearly opportunity to take control of your health with a personalized, prevention-focused plan.

What Is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

An Annual Wellness Visit is not the same as a traditional physical exam. Instead, it focuses on helping you and your primary care provider create a strategy for staying healthy and catching potential issues early.

During your AWV, your doctor will:

• 🩺 Review your medical history — including current conditions, surgeries, and family health risks
  
  
• 📏 Measure your vitals — like blood pressure, height, weight, and BMI
  
  
• 📅 Create a custom screening schedule — based on your age, lifestyle, and risk factors
  
  
• 🧠 Discuss preventive care — including nutrition, exercise, fall prevention, and mental health
  
  
• 💊 Review your medications — to ensure safety and avoid harmful drug interactions
  
  

4 Reasons You Should Never Skip Your AWV

1. Catch problems early
Preventive screenings help identify health issues before symptoms appear — when treatment is most effective.

2. Get a plan tailored to you
Your provider will build a personalized prevention roadmap based on your health history and goals.

3. Save money long-term
Early detection and prevention reduce the need for costly procedures and emergency visits later on.

4. Enjoy peace of mind
There’s confidence in knowing you’re proactively managing your health — not waiting for problems to arise.

Is the AWV Really Free?

Yes. If you’ve had Medicare Part B for 12+ months and haven’t had an AWV in the past year, your visit is covered at no cost to you.

✅ No copay
✅ No deductible
✅ No out-of-pocket surprises

How to Schedule Your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

Staying healthy doesn’t happen by chance — it happens by planning ahead. And your Annual Wellness Visit is the best place to start.

📞 Call your primary care provider to schedule your AWV
📋 Bring a list of medications, specialists, and recent health changes
🧾 Ask about any follow-up screenings or referrals afterward

Don’t let another year go by without taking advantage of this important benefit.
Your health is worth it — and Medicare covers it.

Want to learn more?
Visit Medicare.gov Annual Wellness Visit or contact your doctor today.

‍

‍