If you are a Medicare beneficiary, you may have questions like:
What is a Welcome to Medicare Visit?
What is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
Do I really need one?
Will it cost me anything?
Our Care Coordination Team is here to help answer these questions and guide you every step of the way.
What is a Welcome to Medicare Visit?
A Welcome to Medicare Visit, also called an Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE), is available to all Medicare beneficiaries during the first 12 months after enrolling in Medicare Part B.
During this visit, your provider will:
- Review your medical, surgical, and social history
- Check your vital signs
- Discuss preventive services, screenings, and recommended immunizations
- Perform a simple vision screening
- Complete an electrocardiogram (EKG), if medically indicated
- Talk with you about advance directives—legal documents that outline your healthcare wishes if you’re ever unable to make decisions for yourself
There is no cost for this visit.
What is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly appointment designed to assess your overall health and help plan for future care. It creates a baseline and focuses on prevention.
During this visit, your provider will:
- Review your medical history and current medications
- Discuss risk factors and health goals
- Assess functional ability, safety, and cognitive health
- Review your health risk assessment questionnaire
- Provide recommendations for preventive screenings
It’s important to know, this is not a head-to-toe physical exam.
You may have this visit once every 12 months, starting 12 months after your Welcome to Medicare Visit. (A Welcome to Medicare Visit is not required to have an Annual Wellness Visit.)
There is no cost for this visit. It’s important to know, if your provider orders additional tests that are not covered under Medicare’s preventive benefits, you may be responsible for coinsurance depending on your plan.
You can view a full list of Medicare-covered preventive services here.
I would like more information or assistance, who can I contact?
Our Care Coordination Team is happy to help with any questions about your Welcome to Medicare Visit or Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. For assistance, contact Amanda Atwood, RN, BSN at (641) 774-3110.
