Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Unpacked: What to Expect, From an Expert
A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a nonphysical check-up that focuses on your medical history, current medications, and family history to tailor a personalized prevention plan. A cognitive assessment may be included to detect early impairment. To qualify, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part B for at least 12 months. If you visit an in‑network doctor, the AWV itself is typically no-cost, though additional diagnoses or tests outside the scope can incur out-of-pocket costs. Prepare by bringing a list of medications and dosages; the cognitive portion usually involves simple memory tasks. After the visit, prioritize preventive screenings such as blood pressure and cholesterol checks, diabetes screening for those with high BMI, lung cancer screening for long-time smokers, and age-appropriate mammograms, cervical cancer screenings (up to 65), colorectal cancer screenings (50–75), and prostate exams as advised by your doctor.
