Two Appointments Medicare Enrollees Should Keep on the Calendar This Year
May 24, 2021 | Tags:
You’ve probably heard about the importance of seeing your Primary Care Provider (PCP). There’s even research that shows access to PCPs can contribute to lower overall healthcare costs, fewer hospital and emergency room visits, better satisfaction with care, and it may even increase life expectancy.
To benefit the most from PCP visits, you should schedule two annual appointments. You may think they are the same thing, but there are important differences between the two.
- Annual Physical Exam – a general hands-on exam to determine your overall health that will include checks of your blood pressure, weight, heart rate and breathing. If you’re a MedMutual Advantage member, your annual physical is covered at no cost to you once per calendar year.
- Medicare Annual Wellness Visit – a discussion about your health, risk factors and preventive care planning. Your annual wellness visit is covered at no cost to you once every 12 months.
For more details about what you can expect at these two appointments and how they can help you stay healthy, visit our Annual Visits page.
If you’ve been putting off an annual physical or wellness visit due to the pandemic, rest assured, healthcare providers are following guidelines established by the CDC to keep you safe. You can ask about specific precautions taken at your facility when you schedule your appointment.
Depending on your provider, you may be able to see your PCP virtually through telehealth for your Medicare wellness visit.