How to Prepare for a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

Key takeaways:

• A Medicare annual wellness visit is a prevention-focused visit, not a full physical exam.

• The visit may include a health risk assessment, routine measurements, medical and family history review, prescription review, cognitive assessment and a written prevention plan.¹

• Medicare covers the yearly wellness visit once every 12 months if you have had Medicare Part B for more than 12 months.¹

• You pay nothing for the yearly wellness visit if your doctor or other health care provider accepts assignment, but you may owe costs if additional tests or services are performed during the same visit.²

• Blood work is not automatically part of a Medicare annual wellness visit, but your provider may order tests separately based on your health history or concerns.²

• Medicare does not require you to complete the annual wellness visit, but it can be a useful yearly checkpoint for preventive care, screenings and health goals.

What is a Medicare annual wellness visit?

A Medicare annual wellness visit is a yearly visit with your doctor or another health care provider to create or update your personalized prevention plan. The visit is a conversation-based appointment focused on your current health, risk factors and preventive care needs.¹

This visit may also be called a Medicare wellness exam, annual wellness visit or yearly wellness visit. During the appointment, your provider will review your health history, family history, medications, routine measurements, risk factors, cognitive health, advance directives and recommended preventive services.¹

Think of the visit as a yearly planning appointment, not a routine physical exam. It can help you understand what screenings, vaccines, health habits or follow-up appointments you may want to discuss with your doctor.

Mutual of Omaha chief medical officer Dr. Manoj Pawar, MD, FAAFP, says that planning focus is where the visit can become more meaningful.

If you have a new symptom, ongoing pain, medication side effect or specific medical concern, ask your doctor’s office whether you should schedule a separate appointment so there is enough time to discuss it.

What to bring to your Medicare annual wellness visit

Preparing ahead of time can help your visit feel more useful and less rushed. Before your appointment, gather the information your provider may need to create or update your prevention plan. Your doctor’s office handles the formal documentation for the Medicare annual wellness visit, but bringing the right information in your personal health file can help your provider complete the visit and update your prevention plan.

Dr. Pawar adds, “The more organized you are before a doctor visit, the more value you can get from the time you have.”

The goal is not to bring every record you have, but to bring the information that helps your provider understand your health today.

The good news is that many older adults already bring some of this information to doctor visits. In the 2026 Mutual of Omaha Aging Well Survey, 51% of respondents age 65+ said they usually bring questions to ask, and 48% said they bring a medication list.*

Medication list tips before your visit

If it is easier, bring medication bottles with you or take photos of the labels. Do not stop or change medications without talking with your doctor.

Medication lists are especially important if you see more than one provider or have prescriptions filled at different places. Dr. Pawar says. “A lot of medical errors happen because the records do not match what someone is actually taking at home.”

If you are unsure whether something in your health file matters, bring what you know. Your doctor can help decide what is relevant.

Questions to ask before your appointment

Before your appointment, call your doctor’s office or check the patient portal. Ask:

• Do I need to complete a health risk assessment before the visit?

• Should I bring a medication list or medication bottles?

• Do I need to bring insurance cards or identification?

• Do I need to fast?

• Will blood work be done during this visit or ordered separately?

• Can I discuss a new medical concern during this appointment, or should I schedule a separate visit?

• Do I need to update any forms through the patient portal before I arrive?

• Should I bring any specific documents, such as vaccine records, screening results or advance directive paperwork?

Preparing ahead can make the visit feel more focused. In the 2026 Mutual of Omaha Aging Well Survey, 45% of respondents age 65+ said they often or always take time to prepare for a doctor visit in advance, while 29% said they rarely or never do.*

You can also start a running list of questions as they come to you. Mutual of Omaha’s director of health services and registered nurse Kellee Grimes recommends giving yourself time to think through what you want to cover.

What questions are asked during a Medicare wellness exam?

The exact questions can vary by provider, but the visit often includes a health risk assessment. The questionnaire helps you and your doctor develop or update a personalized prevention plan.¹

You may be asked about:

Be honest in your answers. The goal is not to pass or fail a test. The goal is to help your provider understand your health risks and priorities.

Your answers are most useful when they reflect what has changed in your daily life. “Nobody knows you better than you, so it’s important to advocate for yourself and be your own storyteller during medical visits,” Grimes explains.

Questions to ask at your Medicare annual wellness visit

Bring a short list of questions so you can focus the conversation. Dr. Pawar says, “If you have a long list of concerns, prioritize the one or two things that matter most so your doctor can focus on what is most important to you.”

If it would help, consider bringing someone you trust to listen, take notes or help you process the conversation. Grimes notes that “a trusted family member, friend or caregiver can help you navigate a visit with more confidence, especially if they can listen and help remember next steps.”

Consider asking:

• What preventive screenings should I ask about this year?

• Am I due for any vaccines?

• Do any of my medications increase my risk of dizziness, falls or fatigue?

• Are there lifestyle changes that could support my heart, bone, brain or digestive health?

• Should I be concerned about any changes in memory, mood, sleep or balance?

• What should I do if I have a new symptom after this visit?

• Do I need any follow-up appointments?

• Will any tests or services be billed separately?

• How will I receive my written prevention plan?

• When should I schedule my next wellness visit?

For Medicare-age adults who want to stay active, travel or spend more time with family, questions like these can help connect preventive care to everyday life.

Think about your health goals

The annual wellness visit is not only about reviewing conditions. It can also be a good time to talk about what you want your health to support in the year ahead.

For example, you might ask about:

• Staying active safely

• Improving balance and mobility

• Building strength

• Supporting heart health

• Preparing for travel

• Managing medications

• Staying socially connected

• Keeping up with preventive screenings

This can help connect the visit to your daily life, not just your medical chart. Dr. Pawar says, “Preventive care is not just about living longer. It is about staying able to do the things you enjoy.”

If your goals include staying active, improving balance or supporting heart health, ask your doctor what daily habits may be safe and realistic for you.

What to know about blood work, fasting and lab tests before your visit

A Medicare annual wellness visit does not automatically include blood work. Your provider may perform or order other tests if needed, depending on your general health and medical history.¹

That means blood work may be ordered separately if your doctor thinks it is appropriate. Medicare’s 2026 handbook notes that Medicare pays for medically necessary clinical diagnostic laboratory tests when they are ordered by a doctor or provider, and those tests may include certain blood tests, urinalysis, tissue specimen tests and some screening tests.²

You usually do not need to fast for the annual wellness visit itself because it is not a routine physical exam or automatic blood test. However, you may need to fast if your doctor orders certain lab tests before or after the visit.

Before your appointment, ask your doctor’s office:

• Will blood work be part of this visit or ordered separately?

• Do I need to fast before any lab work?

• Should I take my medications as usual?

• Will lab work be billed separately?

• How will I receive my results?

You should always follow your doctor’s instructions before fasting, changing medications or preparing for lab work. Do not skip food, water or medication unless your doctor tells you to.

Can you refuse parts of a wellness exam?

In general, you can ask questions about any part of a medical visit and discuss your preferences with your provider. If you are uncomfortable with a question, screening or discussion topic, tell your provider and ask why it is being recommended.

Some parts of the visit help your doctor understand your risks and create a personalized prevention plan. Before declining a portion of the visit, ask what information it provides and whether there are other ways to address the same concern.

How to make the most of your wellness visit after 65

Your Medicare annual wellness visit can be a useful yearly checkpoint, especially if your health needs, medications or lifestyle have changed.

After the visit:

• Review your written prevention plan.

• Schedule recommended follow-up appointments.

• Add screening or vaccine reminders to your calendar.

• Update your medication list.

• Share updates with specialists, if needed.

• Keep a copy of important health information in one place.

• Ask your doctor how to follow up on test results, referrals or new concerns.

Follow-up matters because the visit is only useful if the next steps are clear and acted on. “Follow-up is huge,” Grimes says, “If your provider recommends a change or specialist visit, the next step is actually taking action on it.”

You do not have to resolve every health question in one appointment. “A doctor visit does not have to answer everything in one appointment,” Dr. Pawar says. “It can be the start of a game plan.”

If your prevention plan includes movement, nutrition or daily habit goals, start small. For example, you might ask your doctor about walking, stretching, balance exercises, heart-healthy eating or ways to stay active safely.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What are the questions on the Medicare wellness test?

The questions can vary by provider, but they often cover your health history, medications, daily activities, fall risk, mood, memory, substance use, family history and preventive care needs. The questionnaire is a health risk assessment.¹

What not to do before a wellness check?

Do not assume the visit is a full physical, do not fast unless instructed, do not stop medications without your doctor’s guidance and do not leave out medications, supplements or recent health changes. If you have a new symptom, ask whether you need a separate appointment.

What documentation is required for a Medicare wellness visit?

Your doctor’s office manages the formal documentation, but you should bring a medication list, health history, family history, list of providers, screening and vaccine history, recent health changes and questions for your doctor. Your provider may also ask you to complete a health risk assessment.¹

Do I need to fast for a Medicare wellness exam?

Usually, you do not need to fast for the annual wellness visit itself. If your doctor orders blood work or other lab tests, ask whether fasting is required and whether you should take medications as usual.

What happens if you don’t do the Medicare wellness exam?

The Medicare annual wellness visit is optional. If you skip it, you do not lose Medicare coverage. However, you may miss a yearly opportunity to review your prevention plan, prescriptions, risk factors and recommended preventive services with your provider.

Why do doctors push Medicare wellness exams?

Doctors may encourage annual wellness visits because they focus on prevention. The visit helps review risk factors, medications, cognitive health, screenings, vaccines and a personalized prevention plan.¹

Does Medicare pay for an annual wellness visit?

Medicare covers the yearly wellness visit once every 12 months if you meet eligibility rules. You pay nothing if your provider accepts assignment, but you may owe costs if your provider performs additional tests or services that are not paid under the preventive benefit.²

Do Medicare wellness visits need to be 12 months apart?

Yes. Medicare pays for the annual wellness visit once every 12 months. Your first yearly wellness visit also cannot take place within 12 months of your Part B enrollment or your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit.¹

Sources:

*2026 Mutual of Omaha Aging Well Survey. Mutual of Omaha utilized research vendor quantilope to conduct a 5-minute online survey of 400 respondents age 50+ with an annual household income of $50,000 or more. Research was conducted June 17-21, 2026. All study data cited in this article is based on Mutual of Omaha proprietary research unless otherwise noted.

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Annual Wellness Visit, April 9, 2026, accessed June 2026

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare & You 2026, 2026 edition, accessed June 2026