An Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) under Medicare is a vital preventive healthcare appointment designed to establish or update a personalized health and prevention plan.

Unlike routine physical exams, this visit prioritizes assessment of current health status, risks, and behaviors to guide interventions that maintain wellbeing and detect issues early.

Core Components of the Annual Wellness Visit

The AWV involves several structured elements. A comprehensive Health Risk Assessment (HRA) forms the foundation, gathering self-reported information about lifestyle, mental health, potential signs or symptoms, and health history. This is followed by a thorough update of medical, family, and social history to identify modifiable risk factors and chronic disease status.

Routine measurements such as height, weight, blood pressure, and body mass index provide objective data supporting risk stratification. Medication reviews are conducted to evaluate current prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplement use, ensuring safety and adherence.

The visit includes cognitive screening tailored to detect early signs of cognitive impairment, a critical aspect for aging populations. Social support and care needs are assessed to identify external factors affecting health outcomes, such as living situation or caregiver availability.

Personalized Health Advice and Preventive Planning

Based on these assessments, healthcare providers develop a personalized health advice plan, addressing lifestyle changes, preventive screenings, counseling, and immunization updates. The AWV recommends scheduling of screenings for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and other conditions tailored to individual risk profiles. Advance care planning discussions, including options for preparing advance directives consistent with patient values, are increasingly emphasized, ensuring informed decisions about future healthcare needs.

Distinction from Traditional Physical Exams

It is important to differentiate the Annual Wellness Visit from physical exams. The AWV primarily collects information and develops plans; it does not perform a comprehensive physical examination or diagnose conditions. Additional services or problem-based visits are billed separately and may involve out-of-pocket costs beyond the AWV coverage.

Eligibility and Frequency

Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for one Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) every 12 months. The first visit under Part B is the Welcome to Medicare preventive visit (also called the Initial Preventive Physical Exam, IPPE), which differs in content from later AWVs. Providers must carefully document the required components (such as health risk assessments and prevention planning) to meet Medicare billing rules and ensure the visit is covered as a preventive benefit.

A mixed‑methods study by primary care researchers found that “AWVs closed gaps in preventive care, strengthened patient-provider relationships, facilitated advance care planning, and provided an opportunity to improve quality metrics.” and according to an American Journal of Managed Care analysis, AWVs were associated with a 5.7% reduction in total healthcare costs over 11 months, especially among higher-risk Medicare beneficiaries, along with improved uptake of preventive services.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a cornerstone of preventive healthcare tailored to seniors and eligible individuals. By focusing on risk assessment, personalized planning, and anticipatory guidance, this annual appointment enables early detection, lifestyle optimization, and better management of potential health issues. Recognizing its components and benefits helps beneficiaries and providers collaborate effectively for sustained health and quality of life enhancement.