Take Charge of your Health With the Annual Preventive Visit.
Your annual preventive visit is an important part of staying healthy.
It's a great opportunity to talk with your doctor one-on-one and track your health changes from year to year.
Watch our video to learn more about the annual preventive visit, including how to prepare and what to expect.
What is the annual preventive visit?
- Your annual preventive visit is a yearly appointment you have with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) to talk about your general health and wellbeing.
- It’s covered by your plan, so there’s no cost to you.
- The main purpose of the Medicare annual preventive visit is prevention. It plays an important role in helping to lower your risk for common health problems. It also can help detect any health issues early.
- You leave your visit with a personalized prevention plan that lays out the tests and exams you need to stay on top of your care.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happens during my annual preventive visit?
During your visit, your doctor will take the time to discuss your whole health, including your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Your doctor will also:
- Take your height, weight, and blood pressure.
- Review your medical history.
- Go over your current medications to see what's working and what's not.
- Review your Health To-Dos, like diabetes and high blood pressure screenings.
- Help coordinate care with your specialists or other doctors.
- Discuss your medical care wishes in case of an emergency.
- Create a Personalized Prevention Plan that gives next steps for your health.
- Make sure you complete your Health Risk Assessment.
- Provide a comprehensive physical exam.
Should I go to my annual preventive visit every year?
Early detection helps prevent problems later.
During the visit, your doctor will learn about your current health and wellbeing, and if you have any issues with balance, hearing, eyesight, or memory. This helps your doctor know what to monitor and if you may need additional tests or exams.
Know your health risks to avoid health problems.
Your preventive visit includes a Health Risk Assessment. This is a form with questions about your current health and lifestyle that you review with your doctor. Your doctor will use your answers to identify any potential health risks.
Shared information helps your doctors, specialists, and health plan serve your needs.
Your doctor will make sure your medical record is accurate and up to date. Together, you'll review your current health conditions, medications, and other specialists you see. The information from your visit will be available to all your doctors and specialists.
How do I schedule my annual preventive visit?
Call your doctor's office to set up an appointment. Make sure to mention that you want the annual preventive visit. This includes your Annual Physical and Annual Wellness Visit.
Is this the same as my Annual Physical?
The annual preventive visit includes your Annual Wellness Visit and your Annual Physical. These can both be completed during one appointment. The Annual Physical usually includes a full physical exam, bloodwork, screenings, and other tests. It’s also when you should discuss any new medical problems with your doctor.
Your Annual Wellness Visit helps your doctor understand what is or isn’t working for you and how to best support your continued health and wellbeing.
The following chart outlines the differences between an Annual Wellness Visit and Annual Physical:
How do I prepare for my annual preventive visit?
When you go to your annual preventive visit, you should bring:
- Your Member ID card
Note: If you're dually enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid and have separate ID cards, bring both cards with you. - A list of your medications, including over-the-counter medications.
- A list of all the healthcare providers and specialists you see.
- You should also bring a list of questions for your doctor, like:
- What tests do I need? Am I overdue for any tests?
- How do I get the results of my tests and screenings?
- Are there any changes I should make to my medications?
- Does my family medical history put me at risk for certain conditions?
- When should I schedule my next appointment with you?
Additional Questions?
Call Member Services at the phone number on your Member ID Card. TTY users dial 711. From April 1 - September 30, we're here Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm. From October 1 - March 31, we're here every day from 8 am to 8 pm.
