Geriatric Medicine • Medicare
The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is fully covered yet often skipped. This article explains what it includes, how it differs from a physical, and why the physician matters.
Fewer than half of eligible Medicare beneficiaries use their Annual Wellness Visit, even though it is covered at 100 percent with no copay and no deductible. If you have had Medicare Part B for more than 12 months, this benefit is already yours.
The Annual Wellness Visit is not a physical exam. It is a prevention-planning visit. Instead of a stethoscope-and-reflex-hammer routine, your doctor uses the time to build a complete picture of your health risks and a written plan to stay ahead of them.
A thorough AWV includes a review of your medical and family history, a complete list of medications and providers, routine measurements like blood pressure and weight, a cognitive assessment, a personalized screening schedule, and a written prevention plan you take home.
This distinction matters for your wallet. The Annual Wellness Visit is fully covered by Medicare. A traditional physical exam is billed differently and may involve cost-sharing. Neither replaces the other because they answer different questions.
Many patients benefit from scheduling both strategically, and a good clinic helps you book the right visit type so you are never surprised by a bill.
An AWV can be a rushed checklist, or it can genuinely change your health trajectory. At Lenox Medical Clinic, wellness visits are led by Dr. Sudha Challa, MD, who completed fellowship training in geriatric medicine, specialized training in exactly the issues the AWV screens for: memory changes, medication interactions, fall risk, and the way chronic conditions interact as we age.
If you have had Medicare Part B for at least 12 months and it has been 12 months since your last AWV, you are likely eligible. Our staff can verify that before you come in.
Next Step
If you have had Medicare Part B for at least 12 months and it has been 12 months since your last Annual Wellness Visit, our team can verify eligibility and help you schedule the right visit type.