Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
The Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a free yearly appointment focused entirely on prevention — not treating illness. It includes a health risk assessment, review of all medications, blood pressure check, height and weight, depression and cognitive screening, and creation of a personalized prevention plan. It is completely free under Medicare Part B — no copay, no deductible.
Is the Annual Wellness Visit the same as a physical exam?
No — the AWV is not the same as a comprehensive physical exam. The AWV focuses on prevention screening, risk assessment, and care planning. It does not include hands-on physical examination of all body systems, and it does not address specific medical problems or prescribe new medications. If you also need a physical exam or have specific symptoms, those may be billed separately.
How often does Medicare cover the Annual Wellness Visit?
Once every 12 months. You can schedule it any time after 12 months have passed since your last AWV. Medicare also covers a Welcome to Medicare preventive visit in your first year of Part B enrollment — this is different from the annual wellness visit.
What should I bring to my Annual Wellness Visit?
Bring every medication you take including vitamins and OTC drugs, your vaccination records, a list of all specialists you see, any recent test results or hospital discharge summaries, and a list of your health concerns and family history. The more complete information you provide, the more your AWV accomplishes.
Can I ask for specific tests at my Annual Wellness Visit?
Yes — and you should. Use the AWV to request all recommended screenings you are due for: colonoscopy, mammogram, bone density, lung cancer CT if you qualify, depression screening, and vaccine review. Your doctor can order these at the same visit. This is the most efficient way to ensure you don't miss covered preventive care.
The Annual Wellness Visit is one of Medicare's highest-value free benefits — and it is persistently underused. Only about 20% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries schedule an AWV each year, meaning 80% leave a free, high-impact preventive appointment unused. Here is everything you need to know to use it effectively.
AWV vs. Physical Exam — Know the Difference
This distinction trips up many seniors. The AWV is a preventive planning visit — it focuses on your health risks, your prevention needs, your medications, and your upcoming screening schedule. It does not include hands-on examination or address specific medical problems. If you have symptoms or ongoing medical concerns, you will need a separate sick visit, which may involve cost-sharing. You can have both on the same day, but Medicare will bill the sick visit portion separately at 20% coinsurance.
What Happens at Your AWV
Your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional (nurse, PA, or NP) conducts the visit. It includes a health risk questionnaire (completed before or during the visit), review of all your medications for interactions and appropriateness, blood pressure, height, weight, and BMI, depression screening (PHQ-9), cognitive assessment (brief memory and function questions), fall risk assessment, a review of your recommended preventive screenings, and creation of a personalized prevention plan listing your next 5–10 years of screening and vaccination recommendations.
How to Prepare — Maximize Your Visit
Bring:
- Every medication bottle — prescription, OTC, vitamins, and supplements
- Vaccination records (or your pharmacy can print a summary)
- List of all doctors and specialists you see
- Any recent test results or discharge summaries
- Your family health history (parents' and siblings' major conditions)
Prepare to discuss: Any new symptoms or concerns, any changes in your ability to perform daily activities, any falls in the past year, any vision or hearing changes, any mood or memory concerns.
What to Specifically Request
The AWV is your opportunity to ensure you don't miss covered screenings. At your appointment, ask:
- "Which cancer screenings am I due for?" — Colonoscopy, mammogram, lung CT (if you qualify as a former smoker)
- "Am I due for a bone density scan?" — Postmenopausal women, every 2 years
- "Which vaccines do I need?" — Shingrix (2 doses, $0), pneumococcal, flu, COVID, RSV
- "Can you refer me for a hearing test?" — Hearing loss is the #1 modifiable dementia risk factor
- "Can you review my medications for the Beers Criteria?" — Some common drugs are inappropriate for seniors
How to Schedule
Call your primary care doctor's office and say exactly: "I would like to schedule my Medicare Annual Wellness Visit." These specific words matter — without them, the office may schedule a different type of appointment with different billing. If your doctor's office says they don't offer the AWV, find a primary care provider who does — this is a standard Medicare benefit all participating providers should offer.
- Call your doctor and say "Annual Wellness Visit" specifically — not "checkup" or "physical"
- Bring every medication bottle to the appointment
- Prepare a written list of screenings and vaccines you want to discuss
- Ask about cognitive and hearing screening proactively
- Schedule every 12 months — put it on your calendar now
→ All Free Medicare Preventive Benefits
→ Free Screenings Checklist 2026
→ 10 Underused Medicare Benefits