One of the most underused Medicare benefits, despite being completely free, is the Annual Wellness Visit. Many beneficiaries do not even know it exists, and others confuse it with a regular physical exam and never schedule it as a result. This guide explains exactly what this visit is, what it includes, why it costs nothing under Part B, and why it is worth using every year, especially alongside the annual review of your Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan.
What the Annual Wellness Visit actually is
Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a preventive planning appointment focused on your overall health, not on treating a specific illness. During the visit, your doctor or a member of their team updates your medical and family history, measures your height, weight, and blood pressure, reviews your risk factors, and develops or updates a personalized prevention plan for the next 5 to 10 years.
It is different from your one-time 'Welcome to Medicare' Initial Preventive Visit, which you can only have once, during the first 12 months after enrolling in Part B. The Annual Wellness Visit, by contrast, is available every 12 months indefinitely, for as long as you have Medicare Part B.
How it differs from a regular physical exam
This is the most common point of confusion, and also the reason many people are surprised by an unexpected bill. A traditional physical exam includes hands-on examination of the body, such as listening to your heart and lungs or checking your reflexes, and Original Medicare does not cover it as a routine free service; that kind of exam can generate a copay or coinsurance. The Annual Wellness Visit, by contrast, is a risk assessment and planning appointment based mainly on questionnaires and your history, not a full physical exam, which is why Medicare covers it 100%.
If you explicitly ask for a 'full physical exam' during the same appointment as your Annual Wellness Visit, your doctor may bill both services separately, and only the wellness portion would remain free. Clarifying with your doctor what will be billed before the appointment avoids surprises.
Availability, cost, benefits, and eligibility vary by person, product, contract, and insurance company, as well as by your service area. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Karla Arámburo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or the federal government.
What the visit actually covers
| Element | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Health risk assessment | A questionnaire about your lifestyle, home safety, mood, and disease risk factors |
| Personalized prevention plan | A schedule of recommended preventive screenings and vaccines for the next 5 to 10 years based on your age and risks |
| Cognitive impairment detection | A brief screening questionnaire to detect early signs of dementia or other cognitive conditions |
| Medication review | A review of all your prescription, over-the-counter, and supplement medications to identify interaction risks |
| Basic measurements | Height, weight, body mass index, and blood pressure |
At the end of the visit, you receive a written summary of your prevention plan, which you can share with other doctors or specialists you see during the year.
Why it has no cost at all under Part B
Medicare classifies the Annual Wellness Visit as a preventive service, not treatment for an illness, and federal law requires Medicare to cover at 100% preventive services that meet certain U.S. Preventive Services Task Force criteria. That is why you pay no copay, coinsurance, or deductible for this visit, as long as your doctor bills it correctly as such and does not include an additional billable service during the same appointment.
This benefit applies the same way whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, since every Medicare Advantage plan is required by law to cover at least what Original Medicare covers for preventive services.
How to prepare to get the most out of it
Arrive at your appointment with an updated list of all your medications, including vitamins and supplements, the names and contact information of other doctors you see, and a summary of your family history if you have not updated it before. If you have any recent symptom or concern, write it down and mention it, even if your doctor decides to bill it separately as an additional visit. Showing up organized makes your prevention plan far more useful and specific to your actual situation.
Why it's worth reviewing your Medicare plan alongside this visit
The Annual Wellness Visit often surfaces things worth factoring into your coverage choice for the following year: a new medication, a specialist you'll start seeing, or a change in your overall health. That is why I recommend scheduling it in the fall, close to the start of the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7), and using that fresh information to decide whether your Medicare Advantage plan or your Medigap-and-Part-D combination is still the best fit for next year. See our 2026 Medicare enrollment dates guide for the full calendar, and if you recently moved or had a life change, check whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period outside of those dates.
Bilingual help to make the most of your preventive benefits
I am Karla Arámburo, an independent, bilingual insurance agent licensed to serve families in Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside counties. Many of my clients did not even know the Annual Wellness Visit existed until I mentioned it, and once they start using it every year, they treat it as a natural starting point to review their Medicare Advantage, Medigap, or Part D coverage together before the Annual Enrollment Period ends. I also help with life insurance, final expense coverage, annuities, and 401(k) rollovers, including life insurance options with an ITIN for those without a Social Security number. You can follow me on Instagram @karla__aramburo or call and text (619) 321-8733 to schedule a free consultation. This page is general education, not individualized advice or a product recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Annual Wellness Visit the same as a physical exam?
No. A traditional physical exam includes hands-on examination of the body (listening to your heart and lungs, checking reflexes, etc.) and usually comes with a copay. Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit is a planning and prevention review centered on questionnaires, your history, and a risk assessment, not a full physical exam, which is why it has no copay under Part B.
How much does the Annual Wellness Visit cost?
Nothing, as long as your doctor bills it correctly as an Annual Wellness Visit and does not bundle an additional billable service into the same appointment. It is covered 100% by Medicare Part B, with no copay, coinsurance, or deductible, once you have already had your initial 'Welcome to Medicare' preventive visit or 12 months have passed since your Part B enrollment.
How often can I get the Annual Wellness Visit?
Once every 12 months. Medicare counts the 12 months from the date of your last visit, not by calendar year, so you can schedule the next one as soon as that period is up, without needing to wait until January.
What if my doctor finds something during the visit and wants to treat it that same day?
If during the Annual Wellness Visit your doctor decides to evaluate or treat a specific health problem, such as looking into pain you mention or adjusting a medication, that additional portion is billed separately as a regular office visit, and it can generate a copay or coinsurance. The wellness visit itself remains free; what gets billed is the additional service provided that same day.
Does the cognitive impairment screening detect dementia or Alzheimer's?
The screening is a brief detection questionnaire, not a diagnosis. If the result suggests possible cognitive impairment, your doctor will refer you for a more complete evaluation. The goal is to catch early signs so you can intervene sooner, not to confirm a specific condition during that same visit.
Do Medicare Advantage plans also cover the Annual Wellness Visit at no cost?
Yes. By law, every Medicare Advantage plan must cover at least what Original Medicare covers, including the Annual Wellness Visit at no cost, since it is considered a preventive service. Some plans even offer additional wellness visits or incentives, such as reward cards, for completing it each year.
How do I prepare for my Annual Wellness Visit?
Bring an updated list of all your medications, including supplements and vitamins, the names and contact information of other doctors and specialists you see, your family medical history if you have not updated it before, and a list of any recent symptoms or concerns to mention, even if they get billed separately. Coming prepared makes the visit far more useful.