Medicare does not require annual physicals, but it does cover one free preventive visit per year
Medicare Part B covers a Welcome to Medicare visit in your first year of coverage, and then one Annual Wellness Visit each year after that. Neither is mandatory — you choose whether to schedule it. The visit is free with no copay or deductible if you see a doctor who accepts Medicare assignment. These visits focus on prevention and screening rather than treating an illness you already have.
The difference between the two matters. Your Welcome to Medicare visit happens once, within your first 12 months of Part B coverage. It includes a full health history, physical exam, and screening tests. After that first year, you get the Annual Wellness Visit once per calendar year, which focuses on creating or updating a preventive care plan based on your health risks.
If you need to see a doctor for a specific health problem — chest pain, a cough, joint pain — that is a separate sick visit and follows different rules. You would pay a copay for that visit. The free preventive visit is not a substitute for care when something is wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Medicare Part B covers one free preventive visit per year with no copay if you see a doctor who accepts Medicare assignment.
- Your first visit is called the Welcome to Medicare visit and must happen within 12 months of starting Part B coverage.
- After that, you get an Annual Wellness Visit once per calendar year to review your health and plan preventive care.
- These visits are free only for prevention and screening; if you need treatment for a health problem, that visit has a copay and follows different rules.
- You are not required to have these visits — they are optional, but many doctors recommend them to catch problems early.
What happens during your Welcome to Medicare visit
This visit is your chance to establish a baseline with Medicare. Your doctor will take a complete health history, including past illnesses, surgeries, medications, and family health history. They will do a physical exam and check your blood pressure, weight, and other vital signs. They may order basic lab work such as a blood test or urinalysis, depending on your age and health.
Your doctor will also review which preventive screenings you need based on your age and risk factors. For example, a 65-year-old woman might be screened for breast cancer and osteoporosis; a 70-year-old man might be screened for colorectal cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm. The visit is the time to ask questions about your health and discuss any concerns before problems develop.
What happens during your Annual Wellness Visit
This yearly visit is shorter and more focused than the Welcome to Medicare visit. Your doctor will review your health since the last visit, update your medications, and check your vital signs. The main goal is to update your preventive care plan — a written document that lists your health risks and which screenings and vaccines you need.
Your doctor may ask about your mood, memory, hearing, and ability to do daily activities. They will review whether you have had the screenings recommended at your last visit, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, or bone density scans. If you have not had them, your doctor can refer you or explain why they are important for you.
Which preventive screenings and vaccines are covered at no cost
Medicare Part B covers many preventive services with no copay or deductible. These include mammograms for breast cancer, colonoscopies for colorectal cancer, bone density scans for osteoporosis, and blood tests for cholesterol and diabetes. Vaccines covered at no cost include the flu shot, pneumonia vaccine, shingles vaccine, and RSV vaccine (for adults 60 and older).
The exact screenings you need depend on your age, sex, and health history. Your Annual Wellness Visit is the time to find out which ones explore to you. If your doctor recommends a screening that is not on Medicare's covered list, you will be responsible for the cost, so ask before the test is done.
Some screenings require a separate appointment after your wellness visit. For example, if your doctor recommends a colonoscopy during your wellness visit, you will schedule that procedure at a different time. The colonoscopy itself is covered at no cost if it is for screening (not diagnosis of a symptom).
What you need to bring to your visit
Bring your Medicare card and any other insurance cards you have. Bring a list of all medications you take, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, or bring the bottles themselves. Write down any health concerns or questions you want to discuss so you do not forget them during the visit.
If you have had recent test results from another doctor, bring those records. If you have a family history of certain diseases — cancer, heart disease, diabetes — write that down too. The more information your doctor has, the better they can plan your preventive care.
How to schedule your preventive visit
Call your doctor's office and ask to schedule your Welcome to Medicare visit (if you are in your first year of Part B) or your Annual Wellness Visit (if you have been on Medicare longer). Tell them it is a preventive visit so they schedule enough time and have the right forms ready.
If you do not have a regular doctor, you can find one through Medicare.gov's provider search tool or by calling your Medicare Advantage plan if you are enrolled in one. Some community health centers and urgent care clinics also offer these visits. Make sure the doctor accepts Medicare assignment so the visit is free.
Schedule your visit early in the year if possible. Some doctors' offices get busy later in the year, and you want to have your preventive care plan in place so you can schedule any recommended screenings before the year ends.
What to do if you miss your annual visit or have not had one in years
There is no penalty for missing a year or several years. You can schedule an Annual Wellness Visit anytime during the calendar year. If you have been on Medicare for many years without having one, your doctor can still do a full preventive assessment — it may look more like your first Welcome to Medicare visit than a routine annual visit, but it is still covered at no cost.
If you are unsure whether you have had a preventive visit in the past year, call your doctor's office and ask. They can tell you when your last one was and help you schedule the next one. You can also check your Medicare statements online through your Medicare account to see which preventive services you have had.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay anything if I see a doctor who does not accept Medicare assignment?
Yes. If your doctor does not accept Medicare assignment, they can charge you up to 15% more than Medicare's approved amount, even for a preventive visit. Always confirm that your doctor accepts Medicare assignment before scheduling. You can check this on Medicare.gov or by calling the office directly.
Can I have my Annual Wellness Visit at an urgent care clinic instead of my regular doctor?
Yes, as long as the clinic accepts Medicare and the provider is a doctor or nurse practitioner. However, your regular doctor is usually the better choice because they know your medical history and can give you more personalized preventive care recommendations.
What if my doctor recommends a test during my wellness visit that Medicare does not cover?
Ask your doctor why they are recommending it and whether Medicare covers it. If it is not covered, ask what it costs. You can decide whether to have the test done. Some tests that are not covered for screening may be covered if you have symptoms of a disease.
If I have a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare, do I still get a free annual visit?
Yes. Medicare Advantage plans must cover the same preventive visits and screenings as Original Medicare Part B, though the copay amounts and which doctors you can see may differ. Check your plan documents or call your plan to find out the details.
Can I have both a preventive visit and a sick visit in the same year?
Yes. Your one free Annual Wellness Visit is separate from any sick visits you need. If you see your doctor for a cough or knee pain, that is a different visit with a copay. You can have both in the same calendar year.