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What to expect at your annual wellness visit
What we check, what we order, and which common tests we no longer recommend for healthy adults.
To schedule your annual wellness or follow-up office visit, visit here or log in to Connect.
Physical exam
- Age- or sex-specific
- Optional / discuss with your provider
Blood pressure
Checked at every visit. High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms but significantly raises cardiovascular risk.
Height, weight & BMI
Used to track trends and screen for obesity-related health risks over time.
Heart & lung exam
Listening with a stethoscope to check for irregular rhythms, murmurs, or abnormal breath sounds.
Abdominal exam
Feeling for organ size, tenderness, or masses in the abdomen.
Skin exam By risk
More thorough with significant sun exposure or skin cancer risk factors.
Breast & pelvic exam / Pap smear Women
Usually done by your gynecologist. Pap every 3 years, or every 5 with HPV co-testing, ages 21–65.
Lab tests
- Age- or sex-specific
- Optional / discuss with your provider
Cholesterol panel (lipids)
Screens for cardiovascular risk. When appropriate, we also order advanced lipid testing (ApoB and lipoprotein(a)) too.
Blood sugar (glucose or HbA1c)
Screens for diabetes and prediabetes. Recommended starting at age 35-40, or earlier if overweight.
Complete blood count (CBC)
Checks for anemia and other blood conditions as part of a routine panel.
Comprehensive metabolic panel
Assesses kidney and liver function, electrolytes, and blood sugar. Especially important if you take certain medications.
Thyroid function (TSH)
Commonly checked, especially in women and older adults. Not universally required but routinely offered.
STI screening By risk
HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and others, recommended based on age, sexual history, and risk factors.
PSA blood test Men 55-69
Optional, after a conversation with your doctor about benefits and risks.
Urinalysis
Ordered when there are specific concerns. Not universally required in healthy adults.
Other preventive care
- Age- or sex-specific
- Optional / discuss with your provider
Vaccine review
Flu, COVID, Tdap, shingles (50+), pneumonia, and others based on your age and history.
Depression screening
A brief PHQ-2 or PHQ-9 questionnaire is recommended for all adults.
Alcohol & substance use screen
A short questionnaire to identify patterns that may need follow-up.
Colorectal cancer screening Age 45+
Stool test or colonoscopy. A rectal exam alone is not a substitute.
Mammogram Women 40+
Every 1–2 years. Your provider may add imaging based on your cancer risk.
Lung cancer screening (low-dose CT) Smokers 50-80
For a 20 pack-year smoking history, if you still smoke or quit within 15 years.
AAA ultrasound Men 65-75
One-time abdominal aortic aneurysm screening if you have ever smoked.
Bone density (DEXA scan) Women 65+
Also for younger postmenopausal women with osteoporosis risk factors.
Blood pressure monitoring
Patients with elevated readings may receive a home monitoring plan in addition to office checks.
Cancer risk & genetic screening
We screen everyone for inherited cancer risk and refer those at higher risk to our genetics program (GPCP).
Whole-body MRI screening Optional
Not standard of care and usually not covered by insurance. Ask whether it fits your risk.
Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) Optional
Blood tests for signs of many cancers. Not yet standard of care and usually not covered by insurance.
Tests we don't routinely order, and why
We follow guidance from medical societies that review whether a test improves health outcomes. Some tests lead to false positives, unnecessary procedures or anxiety without benefit.
Routine chest X-ray
Not recommended without symptoms. Incidental findings lead to unneeded procedures. Low-dose CT for heavy smokers is a separate, proven test.
Routine rectal exam for prostate cancer screening
Not part of prostate screening. If you screen, the PSA blood test is enough. We examine you if you have symptoms.
Routine ECG
Not recommended without heart symptoms. Abnormal results in healthy people are usually normal variation and lead to more testing.
Routine carotid artery ultrasound
Not recommended without symptoms. A false positive can lead to surgery riskier than the condition itself.
Automatic PSA testing
Never ordered automatically. We first talk through early detection against the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Annual Pap smears
Every 3 years (or 5 with HPV co-testing) is enough for women 21–65. Yearly testing adds follow-up procedures, not benefit.
Every patient is different. Your doctor may recommend tests not listed here based on your personal history, family history, medications, or symptoms. This page reflects general guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and major primary care societies. Ask your provider why a test is or isn't recommended for you.
Before your visit
Up to 5 days before
Check in through Connect
Confirm your medications, medical history, insurance and preferred pharmacy, and review your health questionnaire.
Check in via ConnectWhen you get the link
Complete your cancer risk assessment
CARE by Ambry Genetics arrives by text or email and takes under 10 minutes. Your personal and family cancer history helps personalize your screening.
Day of your visit
Fast and bring your insurance card
Fast for 4 hours; water, black coffee and usual medications are fine. Pediatric and gynecology patients should not fast. Bring your insurance card and ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a wellness visit?
Can I ask my doctor about a specific medical issue at the same visit?
Yes. Let your doctor know about these concerns when you schedule, so time can be set aside. Specific issues are considered part of a follow-up visit and are billed to your insurance under the terms of your policy. Depending on their complexity, some may need a separate appointment.
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; new medications or tests; referrals to a specialist; and additional treatment options.
What is a Medicare annual wellness visit?
Covered by Medicare, it lets your provider conduct a health risk assessment, review your vitals, history and medications, discuss nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation, fall prevention and advance care planning, and schedule the screenings and immunizations that apply to you. It does not include a detailed physical exam or management of chronic or new problems; your physician may address these at the same visit, with additional charges. Bring your immunization records, a list of your medications and supplements, and a list of the specialists you see.
Is my annual wellness visit covered by insurance?
Most insurance plans cover the annual wellness exam. Check with your insurance company if you are unsure about your coverage.
Schedule your wellness visit
Book with your Primary Care physician online, through Connect, or by phone.