Medicare Annual Wellness Exam

What Is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?

If you’ve had Medicare Part B for over a year, you qualify for a free Annual Wellness Visit (AWV). This visit helps you create or update a personalized prevention plan to reduce your risk of disease and disability. The Part B deductible does not apply unless non-preventive services are performed.

What Happens During an AWV?

Your provider will:

• Review your Health Risk Assessment questionnaire.
• Discuss your medical and family history.
• Update your medications.
• Check your height, weight, blood pressure, and other key measures.
• Provide a screening schedule for preventive services you qualify for.

Preventive Services Covered by Medicare Part B

Medicare covers a wide range of preventive services at no cost when provided as part of your AWV. Some of the most common include:

• Cardiovascular disease screenings
• Diabetes and obesity screenings
• Depression and alcohol misuse counseling
• Flu, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B shots
• Cervical, vaginal, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancer screenings
• Mammograms and glaucoma tests
• HIV and hepatitis C screenings
• Tobacco use cessation counseling

See the full list in our Medicare Glossary or explore Medicare Health Plans for broader coverage details.

Why It Matters for Women and Men

For women: Preventive services like mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, and cardiovascular screenings can help address leading causes of death such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

For men: Services like prostate cancer screenings, flu shots, and diabetes testing are especially important for conditions that most often affect men over 65.

Next Steps

Make the most of your Annual Wellness Visit. Download our Medicare AWV Guide with a preparation checklist to bring questions and notes to your appointment. For more enrollment details, see our Medigap Open Enrollment guide or get answers in our FAQ.