Understanding your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

3 Reasons Your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is Important

1. Prevent illness
   Talk about recommended cancer screenings, vaccines, and other preventative care
   
2. Stay well
   Discuss any active conditions you have and how to manage them to stay out of the hospital
   
3. Plan ahead
   Make a plan for your health for the next year

What will happen during the visit?

During your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, we will:

• Gather information about your health
• Update your records
• Make a plan for your medical conditions and medications
• Talk through any concerns you may need to watch out for in the future, and how you can help manage, or even prevent, them

Is this just the same as my annual physical?

The visits are similar in that they are both yearly visits focused on prevention and health maintenance.

What makes a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit different is the Health Risk Assessment—a set of questions focused on the unique risks and needs of the Medicare population. For example, you will be asked about fall risk, memory, hearing, vision, and activities of daily living.

You will be given the opportunity to answer these questions before the visit, giving you more time with your provider to discuss your unique situation and to create a personalized plan for your health.

Think of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit as a yearly conversation about your health with your provider and an opportunity to create a plan for your care over the coming year.

What if I have a specific concern I want to talk about?

The purpose of this visit is to talk with your provider about your medical history, your risk for certain diseases, and complete preventative health screenings. If you have a specific health concern you’d like to discuss, please let us know as soon as possible. We may suggest scheduling a separate appointment so we can give the matter the time and attention it deserves.

May I have a copy of my personalized care plan?

Absolutely. Your care plan will be available in the patient portal or can be printed by request. You can share this with any other providers you see.

What should I bring to my visit?

When you come in for your visit, please bring:

• a complete list of medications, including any additional vitamins, supplements, and herbs that you may take
• a list of health care providers currently involved in your care, including specialists you see at other facilities, mental health providers, and durable medical equipment suppliers
• a list of questions you would like to address during your visit