How to avoid unexpected charges during your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a chance to connect one on one with your care team to get questions answered, review medications and create a personalized prevention plan for the year ahead. The goal of an AWV is to keep you healthy, spot risks early, and guide you toward the right preventive screenings and lifestyle choices. AWVs are always 100% covered when you go to an in-network provider. Still, some people are surprised by a bill afterward. This usually happens when part of the visit goes beyond preventive care. Below, we explain why this can happen and how to avoid unexpected costs. Why you might be charged after your Annual Wellness Visit Per Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rules, an AWV covers preventive care only. If your visit ends up including diagnosing or treating a specific health concern, that part of the visit may be billed as a regular office visit. Some people choose to combine their AWV with other appointments, such as primary care or their annual physical. When this happens, the AWV portion is covered fully, but other services during the same visit may result in charges. Knowing what is and isn’t considered preventive care can help you bette...