The Welcome to Medicare preventive visit is a one-time appointment you can choose to receive when you are new to Medicare. The aim of the visit is to promote general health and help prevent diseases.

Eligibility

Medicare Part B covers your one-time Welcome to Medicare preventive visit. Note that you must receive this visit within the first 12 months of your Part B enrollment.

Covered services

During the course of your Welcome to Medicare preventive visit, your provider should:

• Check your height, weight, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and vision
• Review your medical and social history
• Review your potential for depression and other mental health conditions
• Review your ability to function safely in the home and community
• Provide you with education, counseling, and referrals related to your risk factors and other health needs
• Give you a checklist and/or written plan with information about other preventive services you may need

The Welcome to Medicare preventive visit is not a head-to-toe physical. This visit is also separate from the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), which you can choose to receive once each year.

Costs

Original Medicare covers the Welcome to Medicare preventive visit at 100% of the Medicare-approved amount when you receive the service from a participating provider. This means you pay nothing (no deductible or coinsurance). Medicare Advantage Plans are required to cover this visit without applying deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance when you see an in-network provider and meet Medicare’s eligibility requirements for the service.

During the course of your preventive visit, your provider may discover and need to investigate or treat a new or existing problem. This additional care is considered diagnostic, meaning your provider is treating you because of certain symptoms or risk factors. Medicare may bill you for any diagnostic care you receive during a preventive visit.