How to Prepare for Medicare’s Free Wellness Visits
People who have had Medicare Part B health insurance for longer than 12 months are qualified to receive an annual wellness visit with their primary care physician.
It’s important to note that this is not a physical exam. That’s separate (and also covered).
The wellness visit is used for your doctor to develop (on the first visit) or update your personalized plan to help prevent disease or disability. The visit will also create a plan for recommended screenings, vaccines, and/or new medications.
Since this is different from a physical, CHC has three things to make sure you do in order to prepare for this wellness visit.
- Have Your Medical Information Ready
If you already are a patient with the primary care physician, they will have access to your records, but you should bring your vaccine records with you and a list of your current prescriptions at the very least.
- Know Your Family History
Your family history will guide the doctor in many of his decisions when it comes to your preventative care, including tests, screenings, and other health checks. Make sure you know this information so you can pass it along.
- Make a List of Questions
When you’re in the room with the doctor, it’s impossible to remember all of the questions that you wanted to ask. The best thing to do is to make a list in advance. It can include direct health questions and other ones like planning advance directives and ways to make your home safer if there are things you’re noticed and are concerned about. If you think you’ll have trouble remembering what the doc says, bring a relative with you.
And before you leave the office, be sure to schedule your wellness visit for the following year
