Medicare covers 100% of the cost of an annual wellness visit with your doctor. But some question whether these routine health exams are really beneficial or just an unnecessary hassle. This article weighs the potential pros and cons of Medicare wellness visits.
What is the Medicare Wellness Exam?
Also called the “Annual Physical Exam” or “Welcome to Medicare” visit, this exam involves your doctor checking your weight, blood pressure, vision, and other health markers. You’ll discuss your medical history, risk factors, and establish a prevention plan.
Potential Benefits
Proponents argue Medicare wellness exams can provide these advantages:
- Help identify emerging health issues early.
- Provide an opportunity to get screened for cancer, diabetes, etc.
- Chance to review and update vaccinations.
- Review all current prescriptions and medical conditions.
- Establish preventative health goals for the upcoming year.
- Form a relationship with a new primary care physician.
Essentially, the wellness visit is focused on prevention and maintaining health rather than diagnosing illness.
Potential Drawbacks
Critics point out these downsides to the annual wellness visit:
- With no lab work or extensive tests, results aren’t comprehensive.
- May not reduce overall healthcare costs or emergency room visits.
- Can be seen as redundant if you already get annual physicals.
- Requires time off work, travel to the appointment, and copays.
- Provides limited additional value for healthy individuals.
The limited scope makes it more of a basic health review than a full workup.
Deciding if It’s Worthwhile for You
In the end, whether you should get your free Medicare wellness exam depends on your situation:
- Consider your current health and medical needs. Those managing chronic conditions may benefit more.
- Weigh time constraints and convenience against the potential benefits.
- If you already get annual physicals, the Medicare version may feel redundant.
- Discuss the value with your own doctor based on your medical history.
The decision comes down to personal priorities and how thorough of an annual checkup you want or require. Discuss the pros and cons with your provider.
Scheduling Your Medicare Wellness Exam
If you decide it makes sense for you, contact your healthcare provider to schedule. You can receive one wellness exam per year. Make the most of the visit by being proactive about discussing your health goals for the upcoming year.
In summary, while not right for everyone, an annual Medicare wellness exam can provide an opportunity to identify health issues and focus on prevention. Assess your specific circumstances to determine if getting one is worthwhile for you. And then you can make the choice on whether medicare wellness exam waste of time or not
