En español | You can get one free Welcome to Medicare checkup anytime during the first 12 months after you enroll in Medicare Part B, which is the part of Medicare that covers doctor visits and outpatient services. This checkup is not a comprehensive physical exam but is an opportunity for your doctor to assess your health and provide a plan of future care.
The Welcome to Medicare checkup is optional, but it serves as a baseline for monitoring your health during the annual wellness visits that Medicare will pay for in subsequent years. You do not need this checkup to qualify for later annual wellness visits, but Medicare won’t pay for a wellness visit during your first 12 months in Part B.
During the exam you can expect your doctor to do the following:
To make the most of this appointment, you should gather the following information and records in advance:
You’ll have no deductible or copayment for the Welcome to Medicare checkup if you meet the following conditions:
If you’re enrolled in original Medicare, you need to go to a doctor who accepts “assignment,” meaning that the physician accepts the Medicare-approved amount as full compensation.
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that has a provider network, such as an HMO or PPO, you may need to go to a doctor in the plan’s provider network.
Even though you won’t have to pay for this checkup, the doctor could order other tests or procedures for which you may have to cover deductibles and copayments out of pocket.
Updated June 22, 2022
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