An annual wellness exam checklist is essential if you want to get the full benefit of one of Medicare’s most valuable — and most misunderstood — preventive services. The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is covered at zero cost to you, yet many beneficiaries either skip it or walk in unprepared, missing out on personalized prevention planning.
This checklist walks you through every component of the visit so you know exactly what to expect, what to bring, and how to avoid the billing mistakes that catch so many Medicare patients off guard.
What Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
The Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly preventive appointment covered under Medicare Part B. It is not a traditional physical exam. Instead, it focuses on health risk assessment, cognitive screening, and creating a personalized prevention plan tailored to your age, health status, and risk factors.
Medicare covers the AWV at 100 percent — no deductible, no copay, no coinsurance — when provided by a participating provider. You become eligible 12 months after enrolling in Part B. Before that, you can take advantage of the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit, which is a one-time benefit during your first year of enrollment.
The key distinction: a wellness visit is about planning and prevention, while an annual physical is about hands-on clinical examination. Both serve important roles, but they are different services with different billing codes.
Your Annual Wellness Exam Checklist: What to Bring
Arriving prepared makes the visit more productive. Use this annual wellness exam checklist to gather what you need before the appointment:
- Complete medication list: Include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. Note the dosage and frequency for each.
- Medical records from other providers: If you have seen specialists, been hospitalized, or had procedures since your last visit, bring summaries or discharge paperwork.
- Family health history: Note any conditions that run in your family — heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis.
- Health-related questionnaires: Some practices mail or email pre-visit questionnaires about your mood, cognitive function, fall risk, and daily activities. Complete them before you arrive.
- A list of your questions: Write down any health concerns, symptoms you have been tracking, or topics you want to discuss.
- Insurance card: Your Medicare card or Medicare Advantage plan card.
Step-by-Step: What Happens During the Visit
The AWV follows a structured format designed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Here is what to expect:
Health risk assessment
Your provider will review a health risk assessment questionnaire — either completed in advance or during the visit. This covers your medical history, surgical history, family history, current health habits (exercise, diet, tobacco, alcohol), and mental health status.
Routine measurements
Height, weight, blood pressure, and BMI are measured. These are tracked year over year to identify trends. Significant changes — such as unexplained weight loss or a rising blood pressure pattern — will prompt further evaluation.
Cognitive assessment
Starting in 2011, CMS added a cognitive impairment screening to the AWV. Your provider will use a brief standardized tool to assess memory, orientation, and mental function. This is not a diagnosis — it is a screening. If concerns arise, your doctor will recommend further neuropsychological testing.
Depression screening
Using validated tools like the PHQ-2 or PHQ-9, your provider screens for signs of depression. The USPSTF recommends annual depression screening for all adults, and it is a required component of the AWV.
Fall risk assessment
Falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and older, according to the CDC. Your provider will evaluate your fall risk by asking about recent falls, balance problems, and mobility issues. They may also assess your home environment and recommend modifications.
Functional ability and safety screening
Questions about your ability to perform activities of daily living — bathing, dressing, cooking, managing finances — help your provider identify areas where you may need additional support or community resources.
Personalized prevention plan
Based on everything gathered during the visit, your provider creates or updates a written prevention plan. This includes a screening schedule (mammograms, colonoscopies, bone density tests, vaccinations), counseling recommendations, and referrals. The plan is tailored to your specific age, sex, and risk profile.
Preventive Services You Can Schedule Alongside the AWV
While the AWV itself does not include lab work or physical exams, you can often schedule covered preventive services on the same day. Medicare Part B covers these at no cost:
- Cardiovascular disease screening (every five years)
- Diabetes screening (twice a year for at-risk individuals)
- Mammography (annually for women 40 and older)
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Bone density test (every two years for eligible women)
- Annual flu vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and other immunizations
- Hepatitis B and C screening
- Lung cancer screening (for eligible adults with smoking history)
Coordinate with your provider’s office when scheduling to combine these services with your AWV. This maximizes the value of a single visit and keeps your prevention plan on track. For a full breakdown by age group, see our annual physical exam checklist by age.
How to Avoid Surprise Bills
The number-one complaint Medicare beneficiaries have about the AWV is unexpected charges. Here is how to prevent them:
- Request the visit by name. When scheduling, say “Annual Wellness Visit” — not “physical” or “check-up.” This ensures the office codes it correctly.
- Keep preventive and diagnostic separate. If you bring up a new symptom — say, persistent back pain — your doctor may address it, but that portion of the visit may be billed as a diagnostic office visit with a copay. Consider scheduling a separate appointment for medical complaints.
- Ask about any tests or labs. If your doctor orders blood work or other tests during the AWV, confirm whether each one is classified as preventive (covered at no cost) or diagnostic (subject to deductible and coinsurance).
- Confirm your provider accepts Medicare assignment. If they do not, you may owe more than expected.
For more detail on what Medicare does and does not cover at annual visits, see our article on whether Medicare covers annual physicals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Annual Wellness Visit the same as an annual physical?
No. The AWV is a health risk assessment and prevention-planning session. It does not include a head-to-toe physical examination, reflexes, or a stethoscope check of your heart and lungs. An annual physical is a separate, more comprehensive clinical exam. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover both.
How often can I get an Annual Wellness Visit?
Once every 12 months after you have had Medicare Part B for more than 12 months. Your first eligible preventive visit is the “Welcome to Medicare” visit, available during your first year of Part B enrollment.
Does Medicare Advantage cover more than Original Medicare for annual visits?
Often yes. Many Medicare Advantage plans include a routine physical exam as an additional benefit on top of the standard AWV. Check your plan’s Summary of Benefits or call the plan directly to confirm.
What if I missed my Annual Wellness Visit last year?
There is no penalty for missing a year. Simply schedule your next AWV at your convenience. You do not need to “make up” missed visits — just resume the annual schedule going forward.
Can I see any doctor for my Annual Wellness Visit?
You can see any provider who accepts Medicare, but it is most beneficial to see your regular primary care physician. They have your medical history and can provide the most personalized prevention planning.
Take Full Advantage of Your Free Annual Visit
Your annual wellness exam checklist ensures you walk into this appointment prepared, informed, and ready to get the most from one of Medicare’s best preventive benefits. Gather your medication list, update your family history, complete any pre-visit questionnaires, and write down your questions.
This visit is about looking ahead — identifying risks before they become problems and building a roadmap for healthy aging. Combine it with Medicare’s no-cost preventive screenings, and you have a powerful, personalized prevention strategy at zero out-of-pocket cost. For more on building a complete prevention plan, visit our wellness guide.