If you’re new to Medicare, preventive care can feel confusing because Medicare uses terms most people haven’t heard before. Direct answer: The easiest way to think about it is this: the “Welcome to Medicare” visit is a one-time starter visit, and the Annual Wellness Visit is your yearly prevention-planning visit.
I’m “Medicare Dave” Lasman with Senior Healthcare Team in Boca Raton, Florida, and I help people across Florida (and nationwide) set up Medicare the right way, especially with Medicare Supplement Plan G. If you’ve ever wondered why someone got a bill after a “covered” preventive appointment, this article will clear it up.
What is the “Welcome to Medicare” visit?
Direct answer: The Welcome to Medicare visit is a one-time preventive appointment you can use within your first 12 months of having Medicare Part B.
This is Medicare’s way of helping you start strong. Your provider typically reviews your medical history, current medications, and general health risks. They may also check basic measurements like height, weight, and blood pressure, and talk through what screenings or vaccines make sense for you.
Think of it as a prevention roadmap, not a head-to-toe annual physical. If you want a full physical exam, it’s smart to ask your doctor’s office what they offer and whether it’s covered before you book it.
What is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
Direct answer: The Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly visit that focuses on building or updating your personalized prevention plan after you’ve had Part B for more than 12 months.
This visit is designed to help your doctor look at the “big picture” of your health. It often includes reviewing your risk factors, checking for things like fall risk or memory concerns, and making sure you’re on track with recommended preventive services.
Here’s an important point for South Florida families: many people schedule this thinking it includes routine labs and a full physical. Usually, it does not. The Annual Wellness Visit is more about planning and prevention than testing and diagnosing.
Welcome to Medicare visit vs Annual Wellness Visit: what’s the real difference?
Direct answer: The difference is timing and purpose: the Welcome to Medicare visit is a one-time “new to Part B” visit, and the Annual Wellness Visit is your ongoing yearly prevention check-in.
To make it simple:
1) Welcome to Medicare visit: one-time, available in your first 12 months on Part B
2) Annual Wellness Visit: yearly, available after you’ve had Part B longer than 12 months
Both are valuable, and both help you stay proactive. But neither should be assumed to be the same thing as a traditional annual physical.
Why do people sometimes get a bill after a preventive visit?
Direct answer: You can get billed if your preventive visit becomes a problem-focused medical visit.
This is the most common surprise I see. Real-life example: you come in for your wellness visit and then mention a new issue like knee pain, a persistent cough, dizziness, or a medication side effect. Your doctor may need to evaluate that issue, document it, and create a treatment plan.
Medicare often treats that as a separate service from the preventive portion. In plain English: planning prevention and diagnosing a problem are billed differently.
How does Medicare Supplement Plan G fit into this?
Direct answer: Plan G is designed to help make Medicare Part B cost-sharing more predictable when Medicare-approved services are billed.
When you stay strictly in “preventive” territory, you may have little to no out-of-pocket cost. But when your visit includes additional evaluation, follow-ups, imaging, or other Part B services, that’s when people can run into the Part B cost-sharing rules.
This is exactly why Medicare Supplement Plan G is the gold standard for many of my clients. It’s built to work with Original Medicare and support stable, patient-controlled coverage when you need real medical care, not just routine checkups.
If you’re in Florida and you want help setting up Medicare Supplement Plan G the right way, you can call my office at 954-866-1013. [Link to: Contact page] You can also start with my Medicare tutorial video here: [Link to: Medicare Tutorial Video page]
A few simple tips before you schedule your visit
Direct answer: Ask one clear question when you book: “Is this being scheduled as a preventive visit or a problem visit?”
Here are three quick steps that prevent confusion:
1) Confirm the visit type when scheduling (preventive vs problem-focused).
2) Ask the office: “If I bring up new symptoms, could any part be billed separately?”
3) If you want a full physical, ask what it includes and whether it’s covered.
These small questions can save you from surprise bills and help you get the right appointment for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Welcome to Medicare visit?
A: The Welcome to Medicare visit is a one-time preventive appointment available during your first 12 months on Medicare Part B. It focuses on reviewing your health history and creating a prevention plan, not a full annual physical.
Q: What is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
A: The Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly prevention-planning visit available after you’ve had Part B for more than 12 months. It helps your provider review health risks and update your personalized prevention plan.
Q: Is the Annual Wellness Visit the same as a yearly physical?
A: Usually, no. The Annual Wellness Visit is typically focused on prevention planning, and it may not include routine bloodwork or a full physical exam. Ask your doctor’s office what is included before you schedule.
Q: Why did I get charged when my visit was supposed to be covered?
A: You may be charged if the appointment includes evaluation and treatment of a medical problem in addition to the preventive portion. Medicare often bills preventive planning and problem-focused care differently.
Q: Can I talk about new symptoms during a wellness visit?
A: Yes, you can, and you should always bring up important concerns. Just know that if the doctor evaluates and treats a new issue, that part of the visit may be billed as a regular Part B office visit.
Q: How does Plan G help with Medicare Part B costs?
A: When Medicare-approved Part B services involve cost-sharing, Plan G is designed to help cover the gaps so your costs are more predictable. It’s a popular choice for people who want stable, comprehensive coverage alongside Original Medicare.
If you’re trying to decide how to set up Medicare and you want stable, predictable coverage with Medicare Supplement Plan G, I’m happy to help. I’m “Medicare Dave” Lasman with Senior Healthcare Team in Boca Raton, Florida, and I work with clients throughout South Florida and all of Florida. Call me at 954-866-1013 or visit SeniorHealthcareTeam.com and we’ll talk through your situation step-by-step.