Every year that you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B, you’re entitled to a 100% free Annual Wellness Visit (AWV). No copay. No deductible. Nothing. Yet studies show that fewer than 40% of eligible seniors actually use this benefit each year.

The most common reason? Confusion. Many seniors think they’ve had their wellness visit when they had a regular checkup — but these are completely different services, billed under different codes, with very different coverage rules.

Annual Wellness Visit vs. Regular Physical: What’s the Difference?

What Happens at a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

During your AWV, your doctor or nurse practitioner will:

• Review your complete medical and family history
• Update your list of current medications and supplements
• Screen for cognitive impairment (early Alzheimer’s/dementia detection)
• Assess your risk for depression and mental health issues
• Perform a fall risk assessment and functional ability review
• Check your blood pressure, height, weight, and BMI
• Create a personalized prevention plan for the next 5–10 years
• Provide referrals for all applicable free Medicare screenings

How to Book Your Annual Wellness Visit

Call your primary care doctor’s office and say these exact words:

Do NOT say “annual physical” or “yearly checkup” — those phrases will be billed as a regular office visit, and you may owe money. The specific phrase “Annual Wellness Visit” triggers the correct billing code (HCPCS G0438 for first-time, G0439 for subsequent visits) that makes it free.

Free Screenings You Can Request at the Same Visit

Use your AWV to get referrals for these 100% free Medicare preventive services:

• Cardiovascular disease risk blood test
• Diabetes screening (if at risk)
• Colorectal cancer screening (colonoscopy or Cologuard)
• Lung cancer CT scan (if you’re a current/former heavy smoker)
• Depression screening
• Alcohol misuse counseling