You spend so much time caring for others that it’s easy to let your own health fall to the bottom of the list. That’s why setting aside time for an annual wellness exam is so important.
This preventive visit gives you a chance to sit down with your family medicine provider and look at the big picture of your health. It’s a great way to make sure you stay strong for yourself and for the people who rely on you every day.
Annual wellness exams in North Idaho are so essential that many insurance plans cover them once a year at no cost, with no co-pay. The type of yearly checkup may vary based on your age. For example, adults covered by Medicare Part B are eligible for a yearly Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.
Here, the team at Northwest Family Medicine in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, and Athol explains what to expect during a wellness visit and how to know which type of appointment is right for you.
What happens at your annual wellness visit?
Your annual wellness visit provides a baseline of your current health and helps your provider spot small issues before they become major problems.
The exam will start with a check of your vital signs, including your height, weight, heart rate, and blood pressure. Next, your doctor will review your medical and surgical history, then will ask about any medications you’re taking. Your doctor may also check your hearing and vision, ask if you’re up to date on health screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies, and ask whether you need an annual flu vaccine.
Yearly checkups also give you the chance to ask questions about any lifestyle changes that can help you reach your health goals, whether you want to lose weight, start an exercise routine, or manage stress better. Before you leave, you and your provider will create a personalized plan to keep you healthy. Your doctor may recommend follow-up tests or visits, which may require a co-pay or deductible depending on your insurance coverage.
How is a wellness visit different from a sick visit?
A wellness visit focuses on preventive care services, such as health screenings, routine checkups, and immunizations that help you avoid illness. A sick visit, on the other hand, is scheduled to address a specific health concern, such as new symptoms or an ongoing condition like type 2 diabetes or congestive heart failure.
Most insurance plans cover wellness visits in full. However, if you bring up a new medical problem during your exam, your provider may need to bill that portion as a sick visit. As a result, you may be responsible for a co-pay or deductible depending on your health plan’s rules.
If you know you have a new concern you’d like to discuss, let our providers know at the start of your appointment. We can help you determine whether it makes sense to address it that day or to schedule a separate sick visit for another day.
How is a Medicare Wellness Visit for older adults different from a physical exam?
A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a specific type of exam for adults aged 65 and older with Medicare Part B coverage. Different from a traditional wellness exam, a Medicare AWV does not include a physical exam or management of chronic or new medical problems.
During a Medicare Wellness Visit, your doctor will ask you to fill out a questionnaire called a Health Risk Assessment (HRA). The form asks questions about topics like how you’re doing at home and how well you’re managing your medications. As part of this visit, you and your doctor will develop a plan to help you stay independent and healthy.
Medicare Part B covers an Annual Wellness Visit at 100% once every 12 months. If you’re 65 or older and on Medicare, be sure to say “annual wellness visit” when you schedule. That way, we’ll be sure to book the right appointment for you.
Because the Medicare AWV does not include a physical exam, we may recommend that you also schedule a separate physical exam with us. During a Medicare physical exam, your doctor will perform a head-to-toe exam and order blood work, such as cholesterol checks.
How to prepare for your yearly checkup
The first step in preparing for your yearly checkup, no matter your age, is to review your insurance plan’s benefits so you know what’s covered or not covered. After you make your appointment, gather the following information so you’re ready:
- A list of your current medications, supplements, or over-the-counter medicines
- Information about your family medical history
- Details about any hospital visits or hospitalizations over the past year
- Updates on any new diagnoses from other providers (medical doctors, eye doctors, mental health providers)
- Names and contact information for all specialist doctors you see
- Notes about lifestyle changes, such as a new diet or exercise program
Why Northwest Family Medicine is the best place to get your annual wellness exam
If you haven’t had your annual wellness exam yet this year, now is a great time to schedule one at Northwest Family Medicine. Our providers perform yearly checkups for adults at three convenient locations across North Idaho.
Along with preventive care for adults, we care for the entire family. From sinus infections and rashes to eye infections, earaches, and even minor in-office procedures, our team is here for all of life’s everyday health needs.
Schedule your annual wellness visit today before the end of the year. Just give us a call.
Post Falls: Call 208-262-2213
Coeur d’Alene: Call 208-209-2066
Athol: Call 208-561-9901