Medicare offers many preventive services at no cost to beneficiaries, including a wellness exam once a year. Here is how your wellness exam works for you.
What is a Wellness Exam?
A Medicare Wellness Exam is offered once every twelve months (11 full months must have passed since your last visit) if you’re enrolled in Medicare. In your first year of being enrolled you will receive a Preventive visit. You do not need to have taken advantage of your preventive visit to be eligible for your wellness visit each year. According to the CMS website you should expect the following during your visit:
- Health Risk Assessment questionnaire
- Review of your medical and family history
- Developing or updating a list of current providers and prescriptions
- Height, weight, blood pressure, and other routine measurements
- Detection of any cognitive impairment
- Personalized health advice
- A list of risk factors and treatment options for you
- A screening schedule for appropriate preventive services. Get details about coverage for screenings, shots, and other preventive services
Eligibility for Wellness Exam
All Medicare recipients are eligible, however you MUST have Part B for twelve full months before your eligibility begins.
Are There Any Costs for Wellness Exam?
Sometimes. For the wellness exam itself, the deductible is waived, as well as there is no charge for the above consultation. However, if your doctor orders test or screenings you may be responsible for the Medicare Part B 20% coinsurance charge and deductible. If you prefer not to pay any out of pocket costs you should look into a Medicare Supplement plan that can cover copays, coinsurance, and deductibles, as well as, extending hospitalization stays by 365 days.
For further questions about how to cover potential Medicare costs call the number above or click here to get