Your annual physical exam is an important part of your health and wellness plan. It’s one of the best tools you have for maintaining your best health.
If you have Medicare Part B medical insurance, you need to understand the difference between your annual physical exam and the Medicare exam. These two exams have similarities, but the covered Medicare exam focuses more on education and how to manage your health rather than an evaluation of your health.
At Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, in Grand Island and Hastings, Nebraska, our team of primary care providers performs Medicare exams. Here, we explain what’s included in a Medicare exam so you know what to expect and don’t get any surprise bills.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults age 65 and older and younger people with certain disabilities. Different parts of Medicare cover specific health benefits:
There’s no monthly premium for Medicare Part A, but you do have a monthly premium Medicare Part B. And to receive Medicare Part D, you need to join a health insurance program that offers drug coverage; this also has a monthly fee (which may be part of your Medicare Part B plan).
Your Medicare exams are covered by Part B medical insurance and are free as long as you only receive what’s covered by the insurance. There are two Medicare exams, the welcome exam and the annual wellness exam.
During the first 12 months of your Medicare Part B health insurance plan, you’re entitled to a Welcome to Medicare preventive visit. This visit is a free exam that doesn’t apply to your deductible or require a copay.
Your Welcome to Medicare exam is more of a review of your health history and lifestyle habits, giving your medical provider a general sense of your current health status and risk of future health problems.
During this visit, we:
This visit doesn’t include a physical exam, vaccinations, or any bloodwork. It’s simply a fact-finding exam that establishes your wellness plan for Medicare.
If we perform any tests or provide any type of medical care, you pay out-of-pocket for these services based on your Medicare Part B medical insurance plan.
After your Welcome to Medicare preventive visit, you’re entitled to an annual wellness exam. Like the initial visit, this is a free service for patients with Medicare Part B medical insurance.
Your annual Medicare wellness exam is a review of your health so you can update the preventive wellness plan you created during your Welcome to Medicare exam.
During your annual wellness exam we:
Your Medicare wellness exam isn’t a physical exam, but we use the preventive plan as a guide to help us determine what type of health services you need for the upcoming year. The cost of these additional medical services depends on your Medicare Part B coverage.
Medicare can help make health care services more affordable. If you have questions about your coverage and when you can schedule your Medicare exams, give us a call or request an appointment online today.
