Medicare annual wellness visits play a key part in your whole health. It’s a time for you and your primary care provider to focus on preventive measures for your long-term wellness. Keep reading for helpful tips before your visit from AdventHealth provider Kristin Nelson, PA-C.
About Annual Wellness Visits
Some patients mistake Medicare annual wellness visits, available to those who utilize Medicare for health coverage, for annual physical examinations, but they’re not the same. Though the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they serve different purposes.
Kristin, a certified physician assistant with AdventHealth who specializes in family medicine, explains it like this: “An annual physical exam looks at your current vital signs and existing physical health conditions, but a Medicare annual wellness visit focuses on preventive care, health screenings and planning for a healthy future.”
Kristin is passionate about helping her patients prevent, diagnose and treat chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, depression and anxiety. She says, “Your Medicare annual wellness visit is a great opportunity to speak with your primary care provider about your current health and work together to create a plan to promote your lasting well-being.”
How Your Visit Works
So, how does it work? During your visit, your primary care provider will complete a thorough questionnaire called a health risk assessment. They will screen for conditions like diabetes and heart disease, talk with you about your lifestyle and how it affects your health, and help you create a personalized prevention plan to keep you feeling whole.
The assessment may also include the following:
- Routine measurements like your height, weight and blood pressure
- A review of your personal medical history and family medical history
- A review of your current prescriptions
- Advance care planning
Kristin adds, “The assessment is really just a conversation with your provider. In addition to taking your vitals and discussing any health conditions, they may also speak with you about something called social determinants of health, which are non-medical factors that impact your health and quality of life.”
Social determinants of health include things like your living arrangements, your access to food, your employment status and your family circumstances.
“Knowing these details helps your provider understand your social needs and how they impact your treatment,” Kristin says. “This information gives them the best picture of your current health.”
Things to Keep in Mind at Your Next Wellness Visit
Kristin says, “Scheduling your Medicare annual wellness visit is a great way to support your whole health, but there are important things to know before you go.”
If you’re enrolled in Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, you’re automatically eligible for one annual wellness visit every 12 months at no additional cost. When you arrive for your visit, check with the front desk to make sure your appointment is scheduled as an annual wellness visit so you’re not billed at the typical office visit rate.
Though your visit should be fully covered, there may be costs associated with any tests or lab work your primary care provider recommends.
Caring for Your Lasting Well-Being
Scheduling your Medicare annual wellness visit is one way our dedicated team can help keep you feeling your best. Learn more about our primary care services or schedule your visit with Kristin today.
Learn More About Kristin
Kristin graduated with a Master of Clinical Medical Sciences and Physician Assistant Studies from Barry University and her Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Florida. She understands the value of primary care in the lives of the families she serves and looks forward to becoming an integral part of your family for many years to come. She is committed to serving patients with whole-person care.
