What it is:
A wellness visit is more than an average visit with your doctor – it is a personalized check-in that is focused on your overall health. This is the time to touch base with your doctor on any concerns you have, changes in your health, any current medical conditions you may have or prescriptions you may be taking.
Your annual visit might include:
- Review of your medical and family history
- Height, weight, and blood pressure measurements
- Discussion of lifestyle and health risk factors
- Discussion of preventive services that your doctor recommends specifically for you.
If a need for a test, screening or other service is identified during this visit, a separate follow-up appointment will typically be made to schedule those services.
Why you should go:
Health problems are more easily treated if detected early, or even better, before a problem develops. Being consistent with visiting your doctor and following any preventive care services they recommend can help ensure you are getting the care you need and help keep you healthier longer.
Your doctor can help to identify if you are susceptible to any health risks by using information from your medical history, relevant family medical history, and results from health tests or screenings. Your annual visit is a time for your doctor to determine which tests and screenings would be right for you. Some health tests and screenings are recommended based on certain factors, such as age, or if you have been diagnosed with certain conditions, so it is important to return to your doctor each year so that they can reassess your needs over time.
If you have a current medical condition, it is especially important to visit your doctor each year to check and see if you need any help managing the condition. Some conditions, like diabetes, require specific types of tests to be performed regularly by health care professionals to monitor your health and ensure that further problems do not develop.
Prepare for your visit:
Bring a list with you of any current health providers you see and any medications you take, including prescriptions or over the counter medicines. Be sure to note any vitamins or other supplements you might take, even occasionally.
You can also bring a list of questions or concerns about your health that you would like to discuss with your doctor.
Related resources:
For more information about Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, please visit our Understanding Medicare page.
If you need a new doctor, or would like to see if your doctor is in the CoxHealth Medicare Advantage network, please use the Find a Physician search tool on our website, or feel free to contact us for help.
Sources:
Preventive Visit Coverage (medicare.gov)
Annual Wellness Visit Coverage (medicare.gov)
Reasons you should schedule an annual Medicare wellness visit | UnitedHealthcare (uhc.com)
