What to Expect at Your Annual Wellness Visit
Your annual wellness visit is an important opportunity to ensure your health is in a good place and to detect potential concerns early. Here’s what you need to know:
Schedule Your Visit
To book your annual wellness or follow-up office visit with a Primary Care provider, please schedule here.
Insurance Coverage
Many insurance plans cover your annual wellness exam with no copay required and minimal out of pocket costs (always check with your specific insurance plan). However, the components of a wellness visit can sometimes be confusing. Review the FAQs below to understand what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is included in a wellness visit?
Your annual wellness visit typically includes:
- A review of your medical and surgical history
- Evidence based screenings
- Blood test
- Immunizations (following CDC schedules)
- A physical exam
- Counseling to prevent future health problems
2. How should I prepare for my visit?
- Fast for at least 6 hours before your visit. You may continue to drink water and it is recommended that you take your maintenance medications.
- Arrive on time and bring your insurance card and ID.
3. What if I need to discuss a specific medical issue?
Specific issues are part of a follow-up or “sick” visit, which will be billed to your insurance. You may be responsible for copayments, coinsurance, or deductible payments SEPARATE from your annual physical. If you want to address non-routine concerns during your wellness visit, inform your doctor when scheduling your appointment.
4. What does a follow-up or “sick” visit include?
- Treatment of chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, or high blood pressure
- New problems or complaints
- Need for new medications or testing
- Referrals to specialists
- Additional treatment options
5. Combining Visits
Combining a wellness visit with a follow-up office visit may save time but can affect costs. Additional concerns beyond a wellness visit will be billed to your insurance, resulting in unplanned out-of-pocket costs. It’s recommended to schedule your annual wellness visit and any follow-up or sick office visits separately.
Key Points to Remember
- Review your insurance plan’s summary of benefits before your appointment.
- Clearly state that you are scheduling an annual wellness or preventive care exam to ensure proper preparation and billing.
- Inform your doctor at the start of your appointment if you need to discuss any specific concerns, and understand that addressing these issues will fall outside of an Annual Wellness Visit from a billing perspective.
To verify if we accept your insurance, please visit the FAQ section on our website.