Be sure when you schedule your office visit with your doctor you tell them this is for your “Medicare Annual Wellness Visit”. It must be filed this way in order to have it coveredat 100% by Medicare.
During the Annual Wellness Visit, you and your doctor will create and update a preventive care plan. You doctor will also update your medical history, make a list of your current doctors and medications to take with you for you visit; create a 5 to 10 year screening schedule; identify health risk factors and discuss ways to possibly avoid them; check your height, weight, blood pressure and body mass index; and screen for cognitive issues. In addition to what is covered at no cost to consumers during the annual wellness visit, other preventive services will also be free of charge under Medicare, including mammograms, colonoscopies and diabetic screenings.
Medicare will only cover the annual wellness visit at 100 percent if you visit a doctor that accepts assignment of Medicare. That means they accept Medicare rates as payment in full. Doctors that do not accept assignment of Medicare can charge you 15% of the approved Medicare amount.
NOTE: The “annual wellness visit” is covered ONLY by ORIGINAL Medicare and the private Medicare health plans (Medicare Advantage) are NOT required to cover these charges. However; CMS is considering requiring Medicare Advantage Plans to provide the same coverage for these services beginning in 2012. The final rule has not yet been released.
If you have questions, call me 800-504-9501 or email.
TAKE CARE!! PAT
