Your Annual Wellness Visit: What to Expect
Your annual preventive health exam (aka well visit or annual physical) is scheduled with your primary care physician to catch potential health issues early, before they become serious, and to help you focus on wellness and a healthy lifestyle while identifying important screening tests, vaccinations and other necessary testing.听听
Most insurance plans cover your annual wellness exam鈥攏o copay required. However, says Dr. Adam Stracher, Chief Medical Officer, Director of the Primary Care Division and Associate Dean at 麻豆高清, you may find the actual components of a wellness visit a bit confusing.
Read on for answers to your FAQs鈥攁nd learn what to expect when you visit your doctor鈥檚 office, in times of sickness and in health.听
What is included in a wellness visit?听
Your annual wellness visit includes the following:
- A review of your medical and surgical history听
- Screenings听
- Blood tests听
- Immunizations听
- A physical exam听
- Counseling to prevent future health problems听听
How should I prepare for my visit?听
鈥You can check in via Connect听up to 5 days before your visit to make sure we have your most up-to-date information, including your medications, medical history and insurance. You will be able to update these, along with your preferred pharmacy. And you can also review and update your responses to your health questionnaire,鈥 Dr. Stracher says.听听
Please fast for at least 4 hours prior to your visit. You may drink water or black coffee, and take your maintenance medications.听
On the day of your appointment, please arrive on time and bring your insurance card and ID.听
What if I need to ask my doctor about a specific medical issue?听
Specific issues, whether raised by you or identified by your physician during the visit, are considered part of a follow-up or 鈥渟ick鈥 visit, he explains. 鈥淭hese aspects of your visit will be billed to your insurance, and you may be responsible for copayments, coinsurance or deductible payments, based on the terms of your policy. If you would like to address non-routine concerns during your wellness visit,鈥 he adds, 鈥渓et us know about these issues when you schedule your appointment. Depending on their complexity, we may need to deal with them at a later time."听听
What does a follow-up or 鈥渟ick鈥 visit include?听
- Treatment of a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure听
- Any new problems or complaints听
- Your need for new medications or tests听
- Referrals to a specialist听
- Additional treatment options听
What is a Medicare annual wellness visit and what does it include?听
The Medicare annual wellness visit, covered by Medicare, allows your health-care provider to conduct a health risk assessment and propose screenings and prevention strategies. As well, your provider will make sure all your immunizations, cancer screenings and other screenings are discussed and scheduled.听
Your Medicare wellness visit does not include a detailed physical exam or management of chronic or new medical problems. Your physician may be able to perform a complete physical and address new or existing medical issues during your Medicare annual wellness visit, but you could incur additional charges.听
What to expect during your Medicare annual wellness visit听
At your Medicare annual wellness visit, your health care provider will:听
- Review your blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight and body mass index (BMI).听
- Review your current health problems, as well as your medical, surgical, family and social histories.听
- Review your current medications.听
- Conduct a health risk assessment.听
- Provide nutrition counseling.听
- Discuss an exercise plan to fit your lifestyle.听
- Discuss smoking cessation and arrange for counseling, if needed.听
- Discuss fall prevention.听
- Discuss advance care planning.听
- Discuss preventive screenings recommended by evidence-based practice guidelines that are indicated for you based upon your age, risk factors and family history
How to prepare for your Medicare wellness visit听
Bring these items to your visit:听
- Immunization records听
- A list of current prescribed medicines, supplements and over-the-counter medications听
- A list of your patient care team鈥攁ny specialists you see for various types of care听
- Be prepared to review your family medical history.听
Can I combine a Medicare or non-Medicare wellness visit with a physical exam?听
Combining a wellness visit with a physical or follow-up office visit will save you time by eliminating an extra appointment, but doing so may affect your costs. Additional concerns beyond a wellness visit may be billed to your insurance, which can result in unplanned out-of-pocket costs to you. For these reasons, 麻豆高清 Primary Care recommends that you schedule your annual wellness visit and any follow-up or sick office visits separately.听
What are the most important points I need to keep in mind?听
- Review your insurance plan鈥檚 summary of benefits before your appointment to understand what your insurance company will or will not cover.听
- When scheduling a wellness visit, clearly state that you would like to make an appointment for your annual wellness or preventive care exam. That will help the practice prepare for your visit and bill your insurance company appropriately.听
- When you speak with your doctor or other practitioner, let them know you are there for a wellness exam. Or, if you need to discuss a specific concern that may require treatment, make sure to bring their attention to any non-routine concerns at the start of your appointment.听
You can schedule your annual wellness or follow-up office visit with a provider in Primary Care鈥.