What is the Medicare yearly wellness visit?

Understanding the Two Preventive Visits

Medicare Part B covers a one-time preventive visit known as the Welcome to Medicare visit. You may also qualify for a yearly wellness visit to help prevent disease. The first yearly visit cannot happen within twelve months of your Part B enrollment or the one-time visit.

However, you do not need to have had the one-time visit to qualify for the yearly appointment. These visits are designed to keep you healthy rather than treat existing conditions. The visit is used to build a personalized prevention plan based on your current health and risk factors.

What Happens During the Visit

This is a conversation-based visit, not a routine physical exam. Your provider will check your height, weight and blood pressure. They will also review your medical and family history to understand your background.

You will fill out a Health Risk Assessment questionnaire to help build your prevention plan. The provider may offer a physical activity and nutrition risk assessment. Your provider will also do a cognitive assessment to look for early signs of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

How It Differs from a Physical

If you have a specific health concern, make a separate appointment for it. This keeps the wellness visit focused strictly on prevention and future planning.

During the visit, your provider may order other tests if necessary based on your general health. They will give you a written plan listing needed screenings and vaccines. They may also discuss advance directives, which record your wishes for future medical treatment.

Costs and Coverage Details

You pay nothing for the wellness visit if your provider accepts assignment. However, the Part B deductible may apply if your provider does extra tests during the same visit. If those extra tests or services fall outside this preventive benefit, you may owe coinsurance, and the Part B deductible may apply.

If Medicare doesn't cover the extra tests or services, you may have to pay the whole bill. Some of what your doctor recommends may not be covered by Medicare at all, such as a routine physical. Ask what something will cost before you agree to it.

Screenings Covered by Part B

Part B covers various preventive and screening services to help you stay healthy. These include exams, vaccines, lab tests, and specific screenings. Preventive services help find health problems early and determine effective treatments.

Covered screenings include cervical and vaginal cancer tests, colorectal cancer tests, and blood-based biomarker tests. You also get screenings for Hepatitis B virus, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections. Additionally, Part B covers counseling to prevent tobacco use and alcohol misuse screenings.

Common questions

Last reviewed October 2026. Medicare rules, dates and dollar amounts can change each year; Medicare.gov has the official details.