How to make the most of your annual wellness visit 🩺
Annual wellness visits are one of the best tools to stay on top of your health.
They focus on prevention—reviewing your overall health, history, and planning future screenings or vaccinations. Most insurance plans cover them at no cost, making this a free opportunity to invest in your well-being.
✅ What to expect
Your provider will:
- Review your medical & family history
- Take vitals (blood pressure, weight, pulse, etc.)
- Discuss lifestyle habits (sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress)
- Recommend preventive screenings & vaccines
- Talk through long-term health goals
📝 How to prepare
Bring or think about:
- List of medications & supplements
- Updates to family medical history
- Vaccination records
- Questions or concerns to address
- Lifestyle check-in notes (diet, exercise, sleep, stress)
- Mental health updates
- Health goals (e.g., lowering blood pressure, improving sleep)
🔎 Wellness vs. diagnostic visits
Wellness visit: Preventive care, no cost with most insurance.
Diagnostic care: If new symptoms (e.g., headaches, stomach pain) are evaluated, your visit may be billed differently (copay, deductible or coinsurance may apply).
Tip: Always ask how adding a new concern might affect billing.
💵 How to avoid billing surprises
- Clarify the purpose upfront (“I’m here for my annual wellness exam”).
- Ask before shifting topics (“If we address this today, will it change billing?”).
- Decide together whether to handle new issues now or schedule a follow-up.
🌟 Bottom line
Wellness visits are a valuable opportunity to check in, prevent future problems and set health goals.
With preparation and open communication, you’ll leave your visit informed and confident — without billing surprises.