What to Expect at Your Annual Wellness Visit

Once a year, you make an appointment with your primary care physician to make sure your health is in good working order and detect potential concerns early, before symptoms are noticeable.

To schedule your annual wellness or follow-up office visit with a provider in Primary Care, please visit here or login to Connect.

Most insurance plans cover your annual wellness exam — no copay required. However, you may find the actual components of a wellness visit a bit confusing.

Review the FAQs below to learn what to expect during your next annual wellness visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in a wellness visit?

Your annual wellness visit includes the following:

• A review of your medical and surgical history
• Screenings - we generally follow screening recommendations of the USPSTF
• Blood tests
• Immunizations - we follow the vaccine schedules published by the CDC
• A physical exam
• Counseling to prevent future health problems 

How should I prepare for my visit?

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. Pediatric and Gynecology patients should not fast.

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

What if I need to ask my doctor about a specific medical issue?

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.

What does a follow-up or “sick” visit include?

• Treatment 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

What is a Medicare annual wellness visit and what does it include?

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 detailed 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 could incur additional charges.

What to expect during your Medicare annual wellness visit

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

How to prepare for your Medicare wellness visit

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.

Can I combine a Medicare or non-Medicare wellness visit with a follow up visit?

Combining a wellness visit with a follow-up office visit will save you time by eliminating an extra appointment, but doing so may affect your costs. Additional concerns beyond a wellness visit may be billed to your insurance, which can 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.

What are the most important points I need to keep in mind?

• 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.