• Review your insurance plan’s summary of benefits before your appointment to understand what your insurance company will or will not cover.

• When scheduling a wellness visit, clearly state that you would like to make an appointment for your annual wellness or preventive care exam. That will help the practice prepare for your visit and bill your insurance company appropriately.

• When you speak with your doctor or other practitioner, let them know you are there for a wellness exam. Or, if you need to discuss a specific concern that may require treatment, make sure to bring their attention to any non-routine concerns at the start of your appointment.

Combining a wellness visit with a physical or follow-up office visit will save you time by eliminating an extra appointment, but doing so may affect your costs. Your doctor will bill your visit based on the reason you originally gave for scheduling the appointment, plus the specific issues you raised during that appointment. 

Anything more than a general evaluation may result in unplanned out-of-pocket costs to you. For these reasons, Weill Cornell Primary Care recommends that you schedule your annual wellness visit and any follow-up or sick office visits separately.

Bring these items to your visit:

• Immunization records
• A list of current prescribed medicines, supplements and over-the-counter medications
• A list of your patient care team—any specialists you see for various types of care
• Be prepared to review your family medical history.

At your Medicare annual wellness visit, your health care provider will: 

• Review your blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight and body mass index (BMI).
• Review your current health problems, as well as your medical, surgical, family and social histories.
• Review your current medications.
• Conduct a health risk assessment.
• Provide nutrition counseling.
• Discuss an exercise plan to fit your lifestyle.
• Discuss smoking cessation and arrange for counseling, if needed.
• Discuss fall prevention.
• Discuss advance care planning.
• Discuss preventive screenings recommended by evidence-based practice guidelines that are indicated for you based upon your age, risk factors and family history

• Treatment for any worsening of a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure
• Any new problems or complaints
• Your need for new medications or tests
• Referrals to a specialist
• Additional treatment options

The Medicare annual wellness visit, covered by Medicare, allows your health-care provider to conduct a health risk assessment and propose screenings and prevention strategies. As well, your provider will make sure all your immunizations, cancer screenings and other screenings are discussed and scheduled.

Your Medicare wellness visit does not include a physical exam or management of chronic or new medical problems. Your physician may be able to perform a complete physical and address new or existing medical issues during your Medicare annual wellness visit, but you will incur additional charges.

For additional details of the Medicare annual exam: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/yearly-wellness-visits

Specific issues are considered part of a follow-up or “sick” visit. These aspects of your visit will be billed to your insurance, and you may be responsible for copayments, coinsurance or deductible payments, based on the terms of your policy.

If you would like to address non-routine concerns during your wellness visit, you can let your doctor know about these issues when you schedule your appointment. Depending on their complexity, the questions may need to be dealt with at a later time.

Please check in via Connect up to 5 days before your visit to make sure we have your most up-to-date information, including your medications, medical history and insurance. You will be able to update these, along with your preferred pharmacy. You can also review and update your responses to your health questionnaire.

Please fast for at least 4 hours prior to your visit. You may drink water or black coffee, and take your maintenance medications. 

On the day of your appointment, please arrive on time and bring your insurance card and ID.

Your annual wellness visit includes the following:

• A review of your medical and surgical history
• Screenings
• Blood tests
• Immunizations
• A physical exam
• Counseling to prevent future health problems