Many people with Medicare expect a yearly physical and are surprised that the Annual Wellness Visit works differently. The two visits have different purposes, and knowing which one you are booking helps you prepare.
People with Medicare often hear three terms that sound alike. Each one means something different.
The Annual Wellness Visit and a physical exam are separate things. The wellness visit focuses on planning and prevention. It does not include a full head-to-toe exam.
The visit is a conversation with your provider about your health and the care you need in the coming year. It usually includes:
At the end of the visit you should have a personalized prevention plan. It lists the screenings, vaccines and follow-up care recommended for you.
During a physical exam, your provider examines your body. This may include listening to your heart and lungs, checking your skin, feeling the abdomen and testing reflexes. A physical may also include lab tests. Read more about this type of visit in our guide to the annual physical.
Sometimes a new problem or an ongoing condition comes up during a wellness visit. Your provider may examine you, order tests or change a medication. That care may be billed as a separate service from the wellness visit. Medicare Advantage plans can also differ from Original Medicare in what they include. Ask your plan what you may owe before the visit, and tell our staff at check-in if you have problems you want to discuss.
The wellness visit gives you and your provider time to step back and look at the full picture. It is a chance to catch up on screenings, such as mammograms, and on vaccines. It is also a good time to review all your medications, since many older adults take several prescriptions from different doctors.
For people with diabetes, high blood pressure or other ongoing conditions, the prevention plan works alongside regular follow-up care. See our page on chronic disease management.
It can help to bring a family member or caregiver. They can help you remember questions and take notes.
Our insurance page lists the plans we work with, including Medicare and several Medicare Advantage plans. Plans and networks change, so call our office to confirm your plan before you book.
You can book at either of our clinics. Our Woodlands clinic is at 25511 Budde Rd, Suite 3901, The Woodlands, TX. It also offers 3D mammography and ultrasound. Our Katy clinic is at 2715 N Mason Rd, Katy, TX. Katy patients who need a mammogram or ultrasound are seen at the Woodlands clinic. Our staff speaks English and Spanish.
Use the Book Appointment button at the top of this page or call (281) 466-4644. When you book, tell us which type of visit you want: an Annual Wellness Visit, a Welcome to Medicare visit or a physical exam. You can also use the Book Now button in the site menu or chat with our bilingual assistant.
No. It is a planning visit to review your health and make a prevention plan. It does not include a full hands-on exam.
Once every 12 months, after you have had Medicare Part B for more than 12 months.
It is a one-time preventive visit available during your first 12 months of Medicare Part B.
It depends on your plan and on what is done during the visit. If a new or ongoing problem is treated, that care may be billed separately. Check with your plan before your visit.
Our insurance page lists several Medicare Advantage plans we work with. Call (281) 466-4644 to confirm your plan.
Choose the clinic closest to you. Our clinics are at 25511 Budde Rd, Suite 3901, in The Woodlands and 2715 N Mason Rd in Katy. If you also need a mammogram, the Woodlands clinic offers 3D mammography.
25511 Budde Rd, Suite 3901, The Woodlands, TX
2715 N Mason Rd, Katy, TX
This page is for general information and is not medical advice. Please talk with a provider about your own health. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.
